China’s Fujian carrier leaves port, adding to signs it will soon enter service
Images on social media hint at the advanced aircraft carrier’s impending commission
On Wednesday afternoon, photos and videos posted on social media platforms showed the Fujian starting its engines and emitting thick smoke before slowly departing from the Changxing Island dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Previously, the ship underwent three months of maintenance.
The images show a few signs that this excursion might have been different from previous sea trials, drawing speculation that the carrier could enter service sooner than thought.
State broadcaster CCTV aired footage last month that hinted at September 18 as a possible commissioning date, which marks the 94th anniversary of the start of imperial Japan’s invasion of China. Another date widely discussed online is October 1, or National Day in the People’s Republic of China.
Images show the hull freshly cleaned and the deck completely cleared. In earlier outings, the deck carried models or mock-ups of carrier-based aircraft.