China plans to operationalise its third aircraft carrier ‘Fujian’ this year as it has completed nearly three years of sea trials, setting the stage for the Chinese navy for the first time to operate three carrier groups, official media reported on Tuesday. Fujian, stated to be China’s most advanced aircraft carrier possessing the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) similar to that of the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, was launched in 2024 and since then completed multiple sea trials, accumulating more than 100 days of sea trials. The aircraft carrier is domestically developed and makes China the 4th most potential naval power in terms of its number of aircraft carriers.