China wants to get a position. As a new global force.

"Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian, as photographed by JMSDF on September 11, 2025." (Wikipedia)

China completed its new Fujian-class aircraft carrier. The carrier uses magnetic catapults and new types of aircraft. The Fujian uses a conventional diesel-and-steam turbine system. Fujian is the successor to aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong. 

The first People’s Liberation Army aircraft carrier is Liaoning. China brought that ship from Russia. It is the Kuznezov-class carrier, and its successor is the Shandong. The Chinese copy of the Kuznezov-class carriers. Those two carriers reach 31 knots. The Fujian is the new version. That looks more like the U.S. Aircraft carriers. 

The air wing includes new Shenyang J-35 stealth fighters. And the older Shenyang J-15. These are Chinese copies of the Russian Su-27 “Flanker”. J-35 is a carrier-based stealth fighter that is similar to the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II. That aircraft is one of the things that can cause trouble for other countries. Those carriers also carry AWACS and other support systems. 

The Fujian is the Type 003 aircraft carrier, and its successor, Type 004, will be a nuclear-powered version of the Fujian. The nuclear-powered aircraft carriers give China the global strike capacity. Those aircraft carriers are needed to support global-scale operations. 

"Aircraft Carrier Liaoning (16) at Hong Kong Waters" (Wikipedia)

Two J-15Ts and a J-15D in Zhuhai airshow, 2024. (Wikipedia)

Two J-35s (TWZ)

"The U.S. Defense Department in a 2021 report titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China” listed 14 countries — including Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Kenya — as locations that the Chinese military has considered for developing “bases or military logistics facilities.”Regarding China’s move to assist the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, the report stated that the move indicates that China’s “overseas basing strategy has diversified.”

(AsiaNews, China expands military presence under Belt and Road initiative)

Capacity improvement?

"In 2017, China established an overseas military base at Doraleh Port in the East African nation of Djibouti. Currently it is China’s only overseas base and has been used to supply destroyers and other vessels dispatched to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. A U.S. military official said in April 2021 that China had been expanding the port’s pier, which could now host a port call by a Chinese aircraft carrier." (AsiaNews, China expands military presence under Belt and Road initiative)

Those new ships should strengthen China’s position. In the global theatre. Those aircraft carriers are also needed to support and escort Chinese strategic bombers. If those bombers face engine failures or something disturbs their operations. Those fighters can cut the game. They can support rescue teams in cases where some nuclear weapons must be recovered. Those aircraft carriers also. It might have a role. In the support operations of the Chinese overseas military bases. 

China already has an overseas military base in Djibouti. And it has a logistics and other facilities chain. Between China and Djibouti. China considers logistics and military bases in Africa. The fact is that. China wants to enlarge its military footprint. And the bases at Angola and Namibia will support the Chinese missions in the Atlantic. The Chinese influence increases. The Chinese military base in Djibouti is fully operational. It is officially for anti-pirate operations. 

But as we see, China plans to increase its influence in Africa. By establishing a chain of naval and logistics bases. On the East African Coast. Those bases should also protect Chinese investments in Africa. And one of the things that China hopes for. Those bases bring it. They are new allies. Those who want to make deep military and economic cooperation with China. China wants. To take the place. That the Soviet Union had.  

https://asianews.network/china-expands-military-presence-under-belt-and-road-initiative/

https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-35-naval-stealth-fighter-seen-like-never-before

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_004_aircraft_carrier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Fujian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Liaoning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Shandong

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-15

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-35