China's Naval Expansion: From Soviet Carrier Acquisition to Domestic Aircraft Carrier Development

The People's Liberation Army Navy has significantly expanded its capabilities, highlighted by the June 2022 launch of the Fujian, China's first fully domestically designed aircraft carrier. This vessel features advanced technology including electromagnetic catapults and displaces approximately 85,000 tonnes. The naval expansion traces back to Admiral Liu Huaqing's 1980s vision for carrier development, which led to the 1998 acquisition of the unfinished Soviet carrier Varyag from Ukraine through a front company. After extensive modifications, it became China's first operational carrier, the Liaoning, commissioned in 2012. Subsequent domestically built carriers include the Shandong (2019) and the Fujian, with additional carriers planned. This naval modernization supports China's strategic shift toward 'far sea protection' and reflects broader maritime ambitions articulated by national leadership.