China's third aircraft carrier enters into service, marking new chapter in navy development

China's Fujian aircraft carrier, the country's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, entered into service on Wednesday, marking a new chapter in the development of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian, at a naval port in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province.

The aircraft carrier, named after Fujian Province on China's east coast, is the country's third and most advanced model so far, featuring electromagnetic catapults that can launch three aircraft types.

With the hull number 18, the Fujian features a full-length flight deck and has a full load displacement of more than 80,000 tons.

It was launched on June 17, 2022 and completed its maiden sea trials in early May last year.

During its eight-day sea trials, the Fujian tested its propulsion and electrical systems and other equipment, and achieved the expected results.

On Sept 22, 2025, carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 successfully completed their inaugural electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing trainings on the Fujian.

The success showed that China's first domestically built catapult-equipped aircraft carrier is capable of carrying out electromagnetic catapult launch and recovery, marking another breakthrough in the development of China's aircraft carriers.

The trainings verified the sound compatibility of China's fully domestically developed electromagnetic catapult and arresting systems with multiple aircraft types.

This demonstrated that the Fujian has obtained initial full-deck operational capability, paving the way for multiple types of carrier-based aircraft to join the carrier formation.

China's third aircraft carrier enters into service, marking new chapter in navy development

China's third aircraft carrier enters into service, marking new chapter in navy development

China's third aircraft carrier enters into service, marking new chapter in navy development

China's third aircraft carrier enters into service, marking new chapter in navy development

Torrential rain from Wednesday evening has pounded dilapidated homes and crumbled tents across Gaza Strip, claiming lives and compounding the humanitarian situation in the war-torn region.

At least 14 people were killed in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours as homes collapsed and tents sheltering displaced families were flooded during a powerful winter storm, Gaza's Civil Defense said on Friday.

A woman taking shelter in a war-damaged house voiced concerns that the makeshift shelters, which were previously destroyed or severely weakened during recent Israeli bombardments, offer no real protection from the storms.

"The house leaks and stones would fall when it rains. It's not safe. We're afraid it could collapse on us any moment. But we have no choice and no other place to go, so we have to stay here," she said.

Rescue teams responded to 13 collapsed or partially collapsed houses, saving 52 people and moving them to safer locations. Search operations are ongoing after more than 15 homes were damaged across the territory.

"From the early hours until now, rescue crews and Civil Defense teams in northern Gaza have been working to retrieve the missing from beneath the rubble of this house. So far, they have recovered one victim and a child who was injured, but five people remain trapped under the debris and their condition is still unknown," said a rescue worker.

Victims died beneath the rubble rather than from missiles, highlighting the compounded dangers facing displaced families forced to shelter in unsafe ruins, with no alternative refuge available after more than two years of war.

"People sat peacefully at home, taking shelter from the wind, rain and cold. Suddenly, around three or three-thirty, the house collapsed on them for no reason except the torrential rain and flooding," a resident said, recalling the disaster.

Torrential rain brings more deaths, destruction to war-torn Gaza