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China’s new aircraft carrier pushes India, Japan, South Korea to upgrade: ‘source of anxiety’
- China launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, last month and aims to have six carriers by the end of 2035
- A former Indian naval officer says China’s assertiveness at sea is putting pressure on other Asian nations to strengthen their naval capabilities
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![A Chinese flag flutters in the wind near China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, as it prepares to set out from Shanghai. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/31/0ad3c3a1-8574-4e1c-899f-3eb51f0a3cb3_79e83d00.jpg?itok=5zLV0gO9&v=1717164211)
India, Japan and South Korea are bolstering their naval capabilities to counter growing Chinese influence in the region, analysts say, after China launched its new Fujian aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults that can deploy fighters more frequently.
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China currently operates two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong. It launched the Fujian, a next-generation 80,000-tonne aircraft carrier larger than those operated by India or Japan, last month.
By the end of 2035, China aims to have six aircraft carriers – making it the world’s second-largest blue-water navy after the United States, which currently has an 11-strong carrier fleet.
![China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, conducts maiden sea trials last month. Photo: AP China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, conducts maiden sea trials last month. Photo: AP](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/31/13235d1b-9dc3-4d2c-bb53-6b188bb8887f_1126e908.jpg)
Former Indian naval officer C. Uday Bhaskar said China’s assertiveness was putting pressure on Asian nations to build out their naval capabilities.
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