China's Defense Ministry on Thursday confirmed the third sea trial of the nation's third aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian.

In response to media reports claiming the country's second domestic-made carrier was conducting its third sea trial, ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a news conference in Beijing that the sea trial is a normal arrangement in the process of aircraft carrier construction.

"Follow-up test projects will be gradually initiated in accordance with the progress of aircraft carrier construction," he stated.