China launched its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, on Friday in honor of the province’s opposition to self-governing Taiwan, and sent a statement of intent to its rivals as it modernized its military.
While President Xi Jinping has said the government has no hostile intentions, he has made overhauling the world’s largest military a central part of his agenda, seeking to project power far beyond China’s coasts.
Champagne, colored ribbons, water and smoke cannons were used at the ceremony at Shanghai’s Jiangnan shipyard to commemorate the aircraft carrier’s launch and its official name, state media reported.
Dozens of military personnel lined up in front of the ship to sing the National Anthem at the ceremony, attended by senior officials, including Xu Qiliang, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.
According to state media, the aircraft carrier has a flight deck complete with a catapult launch system.
Fujian will join Shandong, which opened in late 2019, and Liaoning, which China bought from Ukraine in 1998 and reformed internally.
China is still developing its ability to operate aircraft carriers and integrate them into battlegroups, something the US has been doing for decades.
source: Noticias
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