China launches its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, in style and sends a clear signal to the US

China launched its third aircraft carrier on Friday, the fujian designed and built in the country, state media reported, sending a statement of intent to rival powers, including the United States, as it continues to modernize its military.

As long as the Eiffel Tower (about 320 meters) is a vessel of 85,000 to 100,000 displacement tonsequipped with three electromagnetic catapults for rapid launching of various aircraft, an oblique runway with arresting cables, and two elevators larger than those used on previous Chinese aircraft carriers, probably to accommodate two aircraft simultaneously.

The ceremony used champagne, colored ribbons, water cannons and smoke to celebrate the launching and official naming of the warship at a ceremony at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

Dozens of Chinese Navy personnel lined up in front of the ship and sang the national anthem at the ceremony, which was also attended by senior officials including Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Unlike America’s nuclear-powered megaships, the new crown jewel will be powered by an integrated electric power and propulsion system, consisting of two gas turbine generators and four diesel-electric generators. These will produce about 150 megawatts of electricity when combined.

Fujian will join the Shandongcommissioned in late 2019, and the Liaoning, which China bought secondhand from Ukraine in 1998 and refurbished domestically.

Only the United States, with 11 aircraft carriers, has more ships of this type than China. Britain has two in operation.

The Fujian Launch demonstrates the growing capability of the Chinese military at a time of rising tension with the United States over Taiwan and Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea.

The new aircraft carrier named after the coastal province of Fujianwhich is across the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan, and is home to the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command.

Taiwan is a prosperous self-governing democracy. But China considers Taiwan its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.