TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Fresh off its Taiwan Strait transit, China’s third aircraft carrier Fujian is in the South China Sea for advanced trials — a step meant to expand the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s strike reach, sortie tempo, and airborne early warning coverage.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a division director at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the ship is testing its capabilities in complex sea conditions and that the trip also serves as a political bargaining chip in US–China negotiations, per CNA.

Su said the carrier previously conducted trials in the East and Yellow seas west of the “first island chain,” where conditions are relatively calm. The South China Sea, he added, is deeper and more complex.

He noted the Fujian’s displacement is about 80,000 tonnes — larger than Liaoning and Shandong — allowing a bigger air wing.

Fujian uses electromagnetic catapults, which Su said would enable fighter launches at roughly one per minute and extend operational reach.

Analysts expect China may commission the Fujian on Oct. 1. After commissioning, the ship will still need time to integrate its air wing and carrier group before reaching full combat readiness.

Once operational, China would field three carrier groups — allowing one in port for maintenance, one in the South China Sea, and one patrolling the western Pacific east of Taiwan.

The Fujian is slated to embark KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft, broadening sensor coverage and improving command-and-control across nearby forces.

Su said any Chinese campaign against Taiwan would likely see carriers enforcing a long-range blockade. He urged Taiwan to accelerate domestic submarine development in response.