India, Nov. 7 -- China has taken a major step in expanding its naval reach with the induction of its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian.

With this addition, China surpasses India, the United Kingdom, and Italy, which each operate two carriers, though it still remains well behind the US Navy's 11, according to the Associated Press.

The ship was officially commissioned this week in a ceremony attended by Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Fujian is part of Xi Jinping's massive military overhaul and expansion that aims to have a modernized force by 2035 and become "world class" by mid century

Fujian is the country's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapult launchers, which allow it to la...