China’s new aircraft carrier signals to Philippines ‘capability to fight in air and at sea’

China aims to have six aircraft carriers by the end of 2035, making it the world’s second-largest blue-water navy after the US, which currently has an 11-strong carrier fleet.

Rommel Banlaoi, director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, told This Week in Asia that the Fujian possessed strong air and sea capabilities.

Asked if the sailing of the Fujian was timed to coincide with ongoing military drills between the US and the Philippines, Banlaio said the Chinese military typically calibrated its responses based on external events.

“The situation in the waterways is becoming more worrisome now because all parties are increasing their military activities. And that is not good for regional peace and stability. What we need now is to de-escalate the current tensions in the South China Sea and conduct more diplomacy.”

In February last year, the Philippines added four bases that US troops could access under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), increasing the total to nine.

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China airs footage of Fujian aircraft carrier featuring advanced catapult launch system

“Philippine coastguard vessels are not military but civilian vessels. Any coastguard activities in the South China Sea, if ever under attack, will not be covered by the MDT,” Banlaio said, referring to Article 5 of the Mutual Defence Treaty signed between the US and the Philippines, under which both countries recognised that “an armed attack in the Pacific area” on either party would prompt countermeasures to meet their “common dangers”.

Defence analyst Jose Antonio Custodio told This Week in Asia that China was expected to use its new aircraft carrier to launch sortie aircraft in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for