Satellite imagery shows two Chinese aircraft carriers—including the country’s oldest and newest in service—docked at a naval base in northeastern China, according to open-source analysis shared publicly.
According to Hidenori Watanabe, a University of Tokyo professor and open-source intelligence analyst, the vessels were identified as CNS Liaoning and CNS Fujian at the Qingdao Combined Security Base. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
China is expanding its aircraft carrier force as part of broader efforts to modernize the People’s Liberation Army Navy and extend its operational reach beyond East Asia.
The appearance of multiple carriers at a single base highlights China’s growing ability to sustain carrier operations across different maritime regions, a development closely monitored by the United States and its regional allies.
What To Know
In a post published on December 21, Watanabe said satellite imagery showed two aircraft carriers docked at the Qingdao Combined Security Base in northeastern China.
The image was captured by the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, a constellation of three satellites—Sentinel-2A, Sentinel-2B and Sentinel-2C—operating in the same orbit.
According to Watanabe, the carriers visible in the imagery were the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, and the Fujian, its newest and most advanced carrier.
Watanabe also said it was confirmed that the Fujian departed Yulin Naval Base on China’s Hainan Island between December 12 and 17. A separate satellite image posted on December 17 shows the Fujian leaving the pier, while the Shandong remained docked to the north.
The purpose of the Fujian’s movement from southern to northern China has not been publicly disclosed. The satellite imagery does not establish whether the carrier is preparing for flight operations, conducting joint drills, or repositioning as part of routine naval movements.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Department of Defense said in its annual report on Chinese military power that the People’s Liberation Army Navy “continues to develop into a global force, gradually extending its operational reach beyond East Asia into a sustained ability to operate at increasingly longer ranges,” adding that China is “in the beginning stages of operating its multi-carrier force.”
The defense outlet Naval News said the commissioning of the Fujian underscores the transformation of the Chinese Navy into a blue-water force, noting that China now ranks second only to the United States in the number of aircraft carriers and the growing capability of its naval aviation.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear when or where the Fujian will conduct its first operational deployment. Additional satellite imagery or official disclosures would be required to determine whether the carrier will participate in training activities in northern waters before returning to the South China Sea.
