Carrier Fujian's home port is Sanya, full deployment of carrier-based aircraft 'won't be long': PLA Navy spokesperson
Global Times
By Global Times Published: Nov 08, 2025 05:39 PM
After China's first electromagnetic catapults-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was commissioned at a naval port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province on Wednesday, Leng Guowei, a spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, accepted an interview with reporters on Saturday, announcing Sanya as the Fujian's home port location. He also addressed issues about carrier-based aircraft configuration and the PLA Navy's aircraft carrier development plan.
Leng said that, as the largest-displacement warship in active service with the PLA Navy, the Fujian's permanent home port is Sanya, taking into factors such as combat readiness needs, port conditions, support capabilities and mission characteristics.
Naval officers and sailors "live as guests on shore and call the sea home" all year round. The vast and magnificent open seas and oceans are the aircraft carrier's true home. In the future, the Fujian will regularly appear on that broad stage, Leng said.
When asked when the Fujian will be fully equipped with carrier-based aircraft, Leng said that carrier-based aircraft are the core of an aircraft carrier's combat capability. While the Fujian was under construction, the research, development and testing of supporting equipment, including carrier-based fighter jets such as the J-35, J-15T and J-15D, the KJ-600 carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft, and the Z-20 series carrier-based helicopters, have also been steadily advancing as planned.
As for when full deployment of carrier-based aircraft onboard will be achieved, he shares the same expectations as everyone else and believes it will not be long, Leng said.
When asked whether the Fujian will continue trial voyages after its commissioning and when it will achieve actual combat capability, the spokesperson said that as China's first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the Fujian is a landmark piece of equipment for the PLA Navy's leapfrog development. Many of its systems and technologies are being put into practical use for the first time. After commissioning, the warship will continue to carry out in-depth testing to further assess the stability of the platform system.
Meanwhile, it will carry out carrier-aircraft adaptation, formation system training, and other tasks as planned to continuously enhance its combat capabilities, Leng said.
When asked about the PLA Navy's next-step aircraft carrier development plan, Leng said that China's development and improvement of weapons and equipment are not targeted at any country or specific goal, nor will they pose a threat to any country or region. They are solely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. As for the future development plan for China's aircraft carriers, it will be comprehensively considered based on national defense needs.
As a socialist country, China's strategic choice to pursue peaceful development and its independent foreign policy of peace determine that China will always adhere to a defensive national defense policy, the spokesperson said.
In response to the naming of the aircraft carrier, Leng told reporters that, in accordance with relevant regulations, aircraft carriers are named after provincial-level administrative regions. In the naming process, factors such as the requests of various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government will also be comprehensively considered. The final name will be determined after being submitted to and approved by the Central Military Commission.
As for the so-called "aircraft carrier naming pool," no such list exists. If there is any relevant new information in the future, it will be shared with everyone in a timely manner, Leng said.
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