China launches third aircraft carrier as Xi pushes military modernization against US influence

China formally brought its next-generation aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into active service Wednesday — a milestone in its drive to transform the People’s Liberation Army Navy into a force capable of projecting power far beyond Asia’s shores.The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, compared with the U.S.’s 11, and the first that it designed and produced at home. It’s one of the most significant milestones in President Xi Jinping’s push to modernize the People’s Liberation Army by 2035, part of a sweeping military overhaul aimed at countering U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific.China’s sta