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China’s biggest air show to display self-sufficiency drive, military prowess By Reuters

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© Reuters. FILEPHOTO: China’s fifth prototype C919 passenger aircraft takes off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai on October 24, 2019. Picture taken October 24, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

By Stella Qiu and Yew Lun Tian

ZHUHAI, China (Reuters) – China’s drive for self-sufficiency in aerospace and its growing military prowess will be on display at the country’s largest air show this week, in an event set against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and trade frictions with the West.

Due to strict quarantine regulations, the normally bi-annual Airshow China will take place in Zhuhai. It was delayed for a year because of COVID-19.

Douglas Barrie from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is senior fellow for military aerospace. “The fact Airshow China takes place at all when the global show calendar has been quite disrupted allows China to demonstrate that it has returned post-COVID normalcy,” he said.

The presence of local aerospace and defense companies has increased significantly. Airbus (NYSE:), Boeing (NYSE;) and other major Western suppliers will be sending their China-based team members. There will also be an online component to assist those who are unable or unwilling to travel.

At a time when the West is increasingly strategic, the country will have to focus on its efforts in improving domestic aerospace technology.

Song Zhongping is a military commentator who was formerly a PLA instructor in missile technology.

China wants to lessen its dependence on imported commercial products due to the trade frictions it has with the West.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China’s C919 narrowbody aircraft (COMAC), will be certified in this year. Although the majority of its components are from Western countries, it is possible that the mixture could change with Chinese technological advances. The engines, which have been a target for domestic replacement, are a significant part of eventual Chinese substitutes.

ARMS RACE

More than 100 aircraft have registered for display in the air or on the ground as China shows off its military might and its space ambitions, including a next-generation crewed rocket and heavy-lift launch vehicle.

According to the state media, the J-16D electronic warfare variant of the J-16 fighter aircraft will make its public debut.

China will be displaying some of its products, such as the AG600 amphibious aircraft that is the largest in the world, and it’s intended for sea rescue, firefighting, and other maritime roles.

As China fights Western competitors for military exports, the Wing Loong II is an armoured drone that looks a lot like the American MQ-9 Reaper.

Feihong will be the debut of a new range of drone products, which includes an unmanned helicopter and loitering missiles. A new generation of stealth drones is also expected to make its debut at this show.

Kelvin Wong from Janes, a Singapore-based defense technology analyst, said that Beijing is not only pushing local made military aircraft and aerospace technologies but also on its ability to meet almost every military need.

As countries respond to China’s growing military might, analysts are warning that Asia is at risk of becoming an increasingly aggressive arms race.

American allies and their Asian counterparts have voiced growing concern at Beijing’s militarization, its pressure on Taiwan and the deployments in South China Sea.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan complained about the repeated Chinese air attacks on Taiwan’s democratically administered island for over a decade.

Australia will be receiving nuclear-powered submarines thanks to a security alliance between Australia, Britain, the United States and Australia.

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