Xi Attends “Fujian Ship” Commissioning Ceremony — Six Strange Anomalies Found

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, recently completed its fourth sea trial. (Video screenshot)

[People News] According to CCP state media reports, on November 5, Xi Jinping attended the commissioning and flag-presentation ceremony for China’s first electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, Fujian, at a naval port in Sanya, Hainan. CCP senior officials Cai Qi and Zhang Guoqing were present, while Zhang Shengmin, the newly promoted vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) at the Fourth Plenum, presided over the ceremony. The report said that “more than 2,000 representatives from the Navy and shipbuilding units” attended.

After the ceremony, Xi took group photos with the ship’s captain and carrier-based aircraft pilots, boarded the ship for inspection, listened to briefings, entered the bridge, and signed the navigation log, among other activities. The report stated that Xi “has always been very concerned about aircraft-carrier development.”

The news included two photos: one of the flag-presentation ceremony showing Xi and two generals completing the ritual, with everyone behind applauding — over twenty people visible in the frame; and another of Xi posing with carrier-based aircraft pilots and aviation support personnel. Although Xi occupies the central position in both, due to the chosen camera angles there is no deliberate highlighting of his “supreme status,” apparently by design.

At present, China has three commissioned aircraft carriers: Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian. The first two also held flag-presentation ceremonies before entering service. What distinguishes this latest commissioning from the previous two?

On September 25, 2012, then-CCP leader Hu Jintao attended the handover and commissioning ceremony of Liaoning and boarded the ship for inspection. Accompanying officials included then-Politburo Standing Committee member and Premier Wen Jiabao, two CMC vice chairmen (Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou — now one imprisoned and one deceased), State Councilor and Secretary-General Ma Kai, CMC member and Armament Department Minister Chang Wanquan, and Navy Commander Wu Shengli.

During the ceremony, Wen Jiabao read congratulatory messages from the Central Committee, State Council, and CMC; Guo Boxiong announced the handover, commissioning, ship name, and hull number; Chang Wanquan presided; and Wu Shengli and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation General Manager Li Changyin each delivered speeches.

Judging from the high-ranking attendees and ceremony procedures, the Liaoning’s commissioning received exceptional attention from both the CCP leadership and the military, even though the ship had originally been Ukraine’s Varyag, built for the Soviet Union and later purchased and refitted by China.

After the ceremony, Hu Jintao boarded Liaoning, reviewed the naval honor guard, and spoke with officers and soldiers. One published photo shows Hu in the center presenting the flag to the Navy.

On December 17, 2019, the first domestically built carrier Shandong was also handed over to the Navy at a Sanya naval port. Naturally, Xi Jinping — then at the peak of his power — attached great importance and personally attended the commissioning ceremony. Reports said “about 5,000 representatives from the Navy and shipbuilding units stood in formation at the dock.”

Attending senior officials included then–Director of the General Office Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier Liu He, National Development and Reform Commission head He Lifeng, and CMC Joint Staff Department Chief Li Zuocheng. Second-ranked CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia presided and announced the handover, commissioning, ship name, and hull number; China State Shipbuilding Corporation Chairman Lei Fanpei and Navy Commander Shen Jinlong spoke successively.

After the ceremony, Xi boarded Shandong, reviewed the honor guard, and spoke with officers and sailors. Xinhua released three photos: one showing Xi and two generals completing the flag-presentation with twelve people visible behind him — Xi’s position prominent; one of Xi reviewing the honor guard, being the focal point; and one handshake photo before a group picture with 5,000 sailors, again placing Xi at the center.

Comparing the Liaoning and Shandong ceremonies in 2012 and 2019 with the Fujian commissioning, six anomalies stand out:

1. The only military figure accompanying Xi was Zhang Shengmin. Absent were CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, CMC Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli, and seemingly even Navy Commander Hu Zhongming — the latter very likely in trouble. With several key generals missing, does Xi really control the military?

2. Non-military attendees were Politburo Standing Committee member and General Office Director Cai Qi, and third-ranking Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing. Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premiers Ding Xuexiang and He Lifeng were apparently busy elsewhere — could such an absence occur when Xi supposedly reigns supreme?

3. Both Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping previously reviewed naval honor guards after ceremonies, yet Xi appears to have been stripped of that privilege this time.

4. In the past, the chairman of the shipbuilding corporation and the Navy commander both delivered speeches. This time that segment was canceled — perhaps because the Navy commander is under investigation? With no commander present at such a major event, how does that reflect on Xi’s prestige? Who is embarrassing him?

5. In 2019, roughly 5,000 representatives from the Navy and shipbuilding units attended to welcome Xi; this time, only 2,000 — a clear downgrade in ceremonial scale.

6. In 2019, state media published a photo of Xi with 5,000 sailors; this time, only one showing him with twenty carrier-based pilots and aviation support staff. Which image better underscores the “Chairman Xi” stature?

Within just six years, the differences are stark. These contrasts seem to hint at where real control over the military lies — and that the circulating rumors may not be unfounded. △