Defense Ministry Replies to The Paper: This Year’s China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition Achieved Complete Success

On November 16, 2024, Zhuhai, Guangdong, the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition featured the J-35A. (Photo by Sigma/Sigma China)

On the afternoon of November 28, the Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director of the Information Bureau and Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, answered reporters’ questions.
A reporter from The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) asked, “At the recent Zhuhai Air Show, multiple domestically produced equipment, including the J-35A, made their debut, attracting significant international attention. Some American officials claimed that China has become the second country after the United States to possess two types of stealth fighter jets, posing a strong competition to the U.S. military’s air superiority and marking a crucial step for China in challenging the U.S. dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. What is China’s comment on this?”
The spokesperson replied, “The China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition this year was a complete success, with five major highlights值得 noting: First, multiple weapons and equipment made their debut, including the medium-sized stealth multirole fighter J-35A, the HQ-19 ground-to-air missile weapon system, a new reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle, the carrier-based fighter J-15T, the carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft J-15D, and the carrier-based helicopter Z-20J, all publicly unveiled for the first time. Second, the exchanges and interactions were more open, with official delegations from 42 countries’ air forces participating. Activities such as the International Military Flight Training Exchange Conference and the Unmanned and Intelligent Theme Seminar attracted representatives from over 30 countries. Foreign military friends sent birthday wishes to the Chinese Air Force, highlighting the vision of ‘One Sky, One World’. The air show also opened the cargo hold of the Y-20 aircraft to the public for the first time. Third, the aerial performances were spectacular, with the Chinese Air Force’s ‘August 1st’ Aerobatic Team, the ‘Red Eagle’ Aerobatic Team, and Russia’s ‘Knights’ Aerobatic Team performing together, dazzling the audience with the J-35A’s ‘Mach Loop’ and the Su-57’s ‘Falling Leaf’. The participation of Russian pilot Sergey Bogdan, who flew solo across thousands of miles to attend the exhibition, sparked heated discussions among netizens. Fourth, the exhibited equipment covered all domains and dimensions. The navy organized actual equipment exhibitions for the first time, constructing a new pattern of ‘air, sea, land’ integrated dynamic demonstrations, encompassing all fields of ‘land, sea, air, space, electronics, and cyber’, showcasing China’s achievements and cutting-edge technologies in aerospace and defense. Fifth, the unmanned and intelligent equipment system was unveiled, with dedicated exhibition areas for unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ships. The debut of the ‘Tiger Whale’ large unmanned combat vessel, the ‘Mechanical Wolf’ combat unit, and the ‘Baidi’ air-space fighter model attracted much attention. The intelligent unmanned equipment made viewers exclaim that ‘the past is not yet gone, and the future is already here’.”
Every November marks a highlight moment for the Chinese Air Force, and this year is no exception. Over the past 75 years, from nothing to something, from weakness to strength, from ‘flying again when aircraft were insufficient’ to ‘air-space integration and balanced offense and defense’, the People’s Air Force has followed an extraordinary ‘path of逆袭 (counterattack)’. As the Chinese Air Force grows stronger, some countries may feel ‘jealous’, which is understandable, but spreading rumors and slanders is not right. It is well-known that the development and growth of the Chinese military is always the development and growth of a force for world peace. We do not seek hegemony, but we will never tolerate bullying by hegemonism. The 75-year-old People’s Air Force is in its prime and will always, under the firm leadership of the Party, aspire to lofty ideals and fly high.