On September 12, 2025, the U.S. destroyer USS Higgins and the British frigate HMS Richmond transited the Taiwan Strait, a key waterway, drawing a response from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA deployed naval and air forces to monitor the vessels, with a spokesperson stating that such movements "undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." The British Ministry of Defence described the transit as routine, affirming compliance with international law and freedom of navigation rights.
Concurrently, China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was conducting its ninth round of sea trials in the same strait. The Fujian, a Type 003 class carrier and China's first to feature electromagnetic catapults, is nearing its commissioning. These trials are a crucial step in its development, indicating China's advancing naval capabilities. The Chinese navy stated the carrier's journey through the Taiwan Strait and into the South China Sea for further testing is a normal part of its construction process, not directed at any specific target.
Analysts, however, interpret these movements as a clear demonstration of China's growing military power and its assertion of maritime dominance in the region. The Fujian, displacing 80,000-85,000 tons and capable of carrying over 50 aircraft, including advanced J-15T fighters and potentially KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft, signifies a new era for China's naval projection. Its advanced electromagnetic catapult technology positions it as a formidable asset, comparable in some aspects to U.S. supercarriers.
The Fujian's trials are focused on testing its own capabilities as well as its integration with carrier-based aircraft and the training of naval aviators for catapult-assisted operations. This synchronized naval activity highlights the heightened geopolitical significance of the Taiwan Strait, which China claims sovereignty over, while the U.S. and its allies consider it an international waterway. The PLA's assertive stance, combined with the Fujian's extensive trials, underscores China's commitment to military modernization and expanding its reach in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force also confirmed sighting the Fujian, accompanied by two destroyers, northwest of the Senkaku Islands, heading towards the Taiwan Strait. This marked the first time the carrier was identified by the Japanese force. The broader context includes China's consistent increase in military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, including large-scale military exercises, which has raised concerns among regional neighbors and the international community. The international community continues to call for dialogue and de-escalation to maintain regional peace and stability amidst these evolving dynamics.