China's aircraft carrier Fujian marks one year in service, moving toward full combat capability

China's aircraft carrier Fujian has been steadily moving from initial combat readiness toward full operational capability over the past year since its commissioning.

Commissioned at a naval port in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province on Nov 5 last year, the Fujian is China's first domestically designed and built electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, bringing the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy into a three-carrier era.

With trials and training moving forward steadily, the Fujian has registered a series of landmark milestones along its journey.

It was launched and named on June 17, 2022, making China one of a handful of countries worldwide capable of building large aircraft carriers.

From May 1 to 8, 2024, the Fujian completed its maiden sea trial. Tests on its power, electrical and other systems and equipment met expectations.

On Sept 12, 2025, a naval spokesperson confirmed the Fujian had sailed through the Taiwan Strait to carry out scientific research, tests and training in relevant waters of the South China Sea.

Ten days later, China released footages showing the J-15T, J-35 and KJ-600 warplanes completing their first catapult takeoff and landing training aboard the Fujian, marking a major breakthrough in the verification of its electromagnetic catapult system.

On Nov 5, 2025, the carrier was formally commissioned at a commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony in Sanya.

Just 13 days after commissioning, the Fujian battle group conducted its first maritime live-force training, during which carrier-based aircraft including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT and KJ-600 carried out electromagnetic catapult takeoffs and landings. The drills also covered battle group navigation and joint ship-aircraft search and rescue.

2026 is a critical year for the carrier's full transition from initial operational capability to full operational capability. The Fujian has completed electromagnetic catapult takeoff and landing drills for the J-35, J-15T and KJ-600, and staged multiple live-force training exercises across different sea areas.

China's aircraft carrier Fujian marks one year in service, moving toward full combat capability

China's aircraft carrier Fujian marks one year in service, moving toward full combat capability

China's aircraft carrier Fujian marks one year in service, moving toward full combat capability

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia has never closed its door to the West and remains ready to cooperate with Western countries that abandon hostile thinking towards it.

Meanwhile, Lavrov stressed that Russia does not want or plan to wage war with Europe, but is prepared if Europe decides to initiate conflict.

The prospect for direct dialogue with Europe remains unclear, Lavrov said, noting that the West is departing from the objective trend toward multipolarity globally.

Lavrov made the remarks at the fourth Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security that opened in the Belarusian capital on Tuesday.

The event hosted by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry brought together more than 600 representatives from around 50 countries and regions.

In his opening speech, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko noted that building a sustainable security and development model in Eurasia is a practical necessity that will benefit the world.

He said that the high level of protests across Europe should raise caution, and urged EU nations to seek avenues for cooperation.

The Belarusian president also said that the Ukrainian crisis could potentially trigger another major war and expressed hope that a peaceful resolution will be found swiftly to the conflict.

The agenda of the two-day Minsk conference includes arms control, the role of new technologies in security, and the development of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which has six members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Russian FM says ready to cooperate with West, but well prepared in face of conflict