Katayama highlighted the strategic and economic significance of the Taiwan-Japan relationship…reports Asian Lite News
Japan views Taiwan’s existence as “very, very important,” Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama stated in an interview with Liberty Times (Taipei Times).
Katayama highlighted the strategic and economic significance of the Taiwan-Japan relationship, underlining their shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
In his comments, Katayama, who has served in the position for a year, noted that the two nations enjoy strong economic ties, especially in agricultural and animal husbandry trade. Taiwan has relaxed restrictions on Japanese agricultural products, while Japan recently began importing Taiwan-raised brown-marbled grouper and pitaya.
This bilateral trade is complemented by the growing number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Japan. With 4.2 million Taiwanese traveling to Japan last year, the figure is expected to exceed 5 million this year, setting a new record, Taipei Times reported.
Katayama also stressed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential not only for Taiwan and Japan but also for other nations. He emphasised that any change to the cross-strait status quo should be resolved peacefully, a stance Japan firmly upholds.
Reflecting on his year in Taiwan, Katayama expressed the importance of the two nations’ relationship, citing the connection between young Japanese and Taiwanese as an example of the warm bilateral ties.
He also encouraged more Taiwanese youth to study and work in Japan, as future generations will be key to sustaining these close relations.
In related news, Taiwan’s Tourism Administration reported a significant surge in Japanese visitors, with over 1 million Japanese traveling to Taiwan in the first 10 months of this year, reported Taipei Times.
This marks a nearly 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, highlighting the strength of Taiwan-Japan tourism ties post-pandemic.
To further attract Japanese tourists, Taiwan is hosting a baseball-themed exhibition at Taipei 101, featuring the ball hit by Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani for his 50th home run in the 2023 Major League Baseball season. (ANI)
India’s real equity returns averaged +6.9% annually since 2000, outperforming China’s modest +4.0% despite China’s robust economic growth….reports Asian Lite News
Indian equity markets have delivered stronger returns compared to China’s equity markets since 2000, highlighted a report by Deutsche Bank
The report noted that while China has experienced robust economic growth, its equity market performance has been relatively modest, with real returns averaging +4.0 per cent per annum since 2000. In contrast, India has emerged as a leader among both emerging and developed markets, offering one of the highest real equity returns of +6.9 per cent per annum over the same period.
It said “India has one of the highest real equity returns (+6.9% p.a.) of the main EM and DM countries in the 2000- 2024 QC”
The report also highlighted that, as of 2024, India and the U.S. are among the few markets trading close to record-high CAPE (Cyclically Adjusted Price-to-Earnings) ratios. This metric, which measures earnings over a 10-year period, smooths out cyclical variations but may not fully account for structural changes in market dynamics.
It stated that at the turn of the millennium, the U.S. S&P 500’s CAPE ratio reached unprecedented levels before dipping in the early years of the 21st century now it has climbed back to heights only exceeded briefly in the last century.
The report also argues that tech dominance, artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, and structural shifts in earnings expectations justify these elevated valuations for the U.S.
It said “The bulls would argue that tech dominance and AI hopes offer the US that structural shift, and perhaps India’s outlook is so positive that investors are prepared to pay up for the potential growth”.
It suggested that India’s positive growth outlook and its potential as a key player in global markets also explain why investors are willing to pay a premium.
Heading into the new quarter-century (2025-2049), the report added that India and the U.S. begin on a high note but remain expensive compared to markets with more normalized valuations. This positions them as markets to watch, with their growth trajectories closely tied to investor confidence in their structural strengths and future prospects.
Deal Volume Up 12%
India saw 11.9 per cent increase in deal volume (year-on-year) in the January-October period, bucking the overall trend in the Asia-Pacific region, a new report has said.
On the other hand, China experienced YoY decline in deal volume by 22.9 per cent during the period, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
A total of 11,808 deals (mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture financing deals) were announced in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during January to October 2024, which was a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 4.8 per cent, compared to the 12,406 deals announced during the same period in 2023.
An analysis revealed that during January-October, the number of private equity and venture financing deals declined by 16.3 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, the M&A deals volume experienced a marginal YoY improvement during the review period.
According to Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData, the decline in deal activity in APAC was in line with the global trend wherein all the regions experienced fall in deal volume.
However, the APAC region showcased relatively better performance and experienced only single digit decline whereas most of the other regions experienced double-digit declines, Bose mentioned.
“This could be attributed to the improvement in deal activity experienced in some of the APAC countries, like India,” the report said, adding that this has helped in minimising the impact of decline experienced in other countries within the region.
Meanwhile, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia experienced YoY decline in deal volume by 17.6 per cent, 14.4 per cent, 13.9 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, during the review period.
According to another report that came out in October, the mergers and acquisitions deal activity in value in India surged 66 per cent in the first nine months this year, outpacing 10 per cent growth globally and 5 per cent decrease in the Asia-Pacific region overall.
The M&A activity in India has been strong in 2024, bucking the trend in the other Asia-Pacific markets, according to a global report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
“This highlights India’s unique resilience and appeal. Sectors like technology, media, industrials and healthcare have been key drivers of large deals, capitalising on the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” said Dhruv Shah, Managing Director and Partner, BCG.
Xi Jinping called on the Japanese side to face history squarely, look to the future, and properly handle major issues of principle such as history and Taiwan, manage differences in a constructive manner…reports Asian Lite Mews
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first in-person talks on Friday as part of efforts to manage tensions in Japan-China relations and also expressed his concerns over China’s activity near Taiwan as well as the South China Sea, the Japan Times reported.
The two leaders meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, where they discussed several key issues, including Japan’s seafood export ban, China’s military activities near Japan, and the safety of Japanese nationals in China.
In his opening remarks, Ishiba highlighted the importance of Japan-China relations for global stability, acknowledging both challenges and the need for ongoing dialogue. He also reiterated Japan’s concerns about regional security, particularly around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and China’s growing military presence near Japan. The prime minister also stressed the importance of “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” as it was “extremely important for the international community.” He further expressed “serious concerns” over the situation in the South China Sea, as reported by the Japan Times.
Meanwhile, Xi expressed appreciation for Ishida’s stance on promoting Japan-China ties and described the current moment as “critical” for improving relations and hoped that the two countries’ ties could be “constructive and stable,” the Japan Times reported.
Both leaders emphasised the importance of a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests,” a sentiment that had become rare in recent years due to escalating diplomatic challenges. The last time this phrase was used was during the 2023 summit in San Francisco, when former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Xi set the tone for their relationship, Japan Times reported.
In addition, Ishiba reiterated Japan’s demand for the removal of import restrictions on Japanese seafood. This follows an agreement in September under which China agreed to “gradually resume” seafood imports from Japan in exchange for increased monitoring, including Chinese experts overseeing Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
This meeting marks Ishiba’s second major international appearance since becoming prime minister on October 1, with his engagements with Xi and US President Joe Biden drawing significant attention.
In light of these tensions, Ishiba stressed the urgency of addressing safety concerns for Japanese nationals in China and pushing for a clear response from Beijing regarding the recent incidents involving Japanese citizens. Ishida was referring to the recent of two high-profile attacks on Japanese children in China that have raised concerns among the Japanese community there, although Beijing has not provided details on the suspects.
With US President-elect Donald Trump poised to return to the White House, both Tokyo and Beijing are closely analyzing the potential impact on regional power dynamics and seeking to maintain open communication to avoid any missteps.
Xi says relations in critical period
China-Japan relations are in a critical period of improvement and development, as the current international and regional situations face changes and turbulence, said President Xi.
He noted that China is willing to work with Japan, in accordance with the principles and directions established in the four political documents between China and Japan, to uphold the important consensus that the two countries should “be partners, not threats,” comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and endeavour to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
Xi stressed that China’s development is an opportunity for the world, and this is especially true for neighbouring countries like Japan. He expressed hope that Japan will work with China to develop a correct mutual understanding, steer the bilateral relationship in the right direction from a strategic perspective and with a broad view of the overall situation, and translate the important political consensus reached by both sides into concrete policies and actions.
Xi called on the Japanese side to face history squarely, look to the future, and properly handle major issues of principle such as history and Taiwan, manage differences in a constructive manner and maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations.
Washington has been pushing Beijing for months to break a longstanding resistance to nuclear arms talks…reports Asian Lite News
Joe Biden met with Xi Jinping on Saturday afternoon, coming to the agreement that human beings and not artificial intelligence should make decisions over the use of nuclear weapons, according to the White House.
In what is believed to be the last meeting between the two leaders before Donald Trump assumes the US presidency, the two met at a hotel on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, where they shook hands before each delivering opening remarks on the China-US relationship.
“The two leaders affirmed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons,” the White House said in a statement. “The two leaders also stressed the need to consider carefully the potential risks and develop AI technology in the military field in a prudent and responsible manner.”
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It was not clear whether the statement would lead to further talks or action on the issue. But it nonetheless marks a first-of-its-kind step between the two countries in the discussion of two issues on which progress has been elusive: nuclear arms and artificial intelligence.
Washington has been pushing Beijing for months to break a longstanding resistance to nuclear arms talks.
The two countries briefly resumed official-level talks over nuclear arms in November but those negotiations have since stalled, with a top US official publicly expressing frustration regarding China’s responsiveness.
Formal nuclear arms control negotiations have not been expected any time soon, despite US concerns about China’s rapid nuclear weapons buildup, even though semi-official exchanges have resumed.
Biden met on Friday with Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, and Shigeru Ishiba, the Japanese prime minister, and affirmed the alliance among the three countries. The three leaders agreed that “it should not be in Beijing’s interest to have this kind of destabilizing cooperation take place in the region”, a senior administration official said in a briefing on background.
Trump’s imminent return to the White House casts a dark shadow over the conversation as it remains unclear what his second term will mean for the relationship between the US and China.
On the campaign trail, Trump touted a hawkish approach to China, promising to increase tariffs to 60% on Chinese imports, which could be as much as $500bn worth of goods. Trump has also promised to end Russia’s war in Ukraine “in 24 hours”, which some fear means decreasing the flow of military aid to Ukraine or pushing the country to lose territory to Russia. A general backing away from the conflict could give room for China to step up as an intermediary, increasing its presence on the global stage.
Among Trump’s blitz of cabinet nominee announcements was the appointments of Florida senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Republican representative Mike Waltz as national security adviser, both of whom have have voiced hawkish views on China.
Xi congratulated Trump on his election win earlier this month, saying that their two countries must “get along with each other in the new era”, in a statement.
A resident collects medicine at a fever clinic in Kaifu District of Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Dec. 20, 2022. Fever clinics have been set up in cities including Xi'an and Changsha to provide timely treatment to patients with COVID-19 symptoms. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
Many in China blamed the excesses by the government during the Zero Covid programme for deteriorating mental health conditions. The youth was particularly affected due to the loss of jobs, writes Dr Rajeev Kumar Sharma
The ongoing demographic crisis in China due to the fast-ageing population is set to become more severe in the near future. Almost a quarter of youth are reported to be suffering from mental depression in China. To make matters worse, such cases are also rising among adolescents as well. While the communist government in Beijing may be seen harping on a prosperous future, the young Chinese feel pessimistic about their own future. This does not spell good news for the country’s economic and social fortunes.
There are several reasons for the mental problems among youth. The rising level of unemployment is a major one. “Plenty of young Chinese people are now having psychological problems due to the bad economy, but many don’t show it outwardly. They choose to ‘lie flat’ or become cynical instead,” said a software development professional from Beijing. Notably, the viewership of mental-health-related videos on Bilibili, China’s equivalent of YouTube, grew by 83 percent in 2023 and the searches for solutions to anxiety, depression and pressure by 224 percent.
Under Xi Jinping, China’s economy has become stagnant while the repression of people has reportedly grown. The economic slowdown especially after the Covid pandemic has caused disillusion among the Chinese youth. Mei, a young former investment banker, lost her voice due to stress after she was sacked. “I think many young Chinese people are now becoming disillusioned — they are not getting what they were promised by the country in their youth,” she said.
Nancy Qian, professor of economics at Northwestern University, said the reasons for the youth depression are beyond the increasing joblessness and economic sluggishness. “The rise of youth depression has been decades in the making, and owes much to China’s rigid education system, past fertility policies and tight migration restrictions,” she said.
China’s youth unemployment rate as high as nearly 20%.
The controversial ‘996’ work culture is also to be blamed for the rising mental distress among the Chinese youth. While this was liked by employers and those seeking to become billionaires, the general population who want to spend time with family and friends or pursue some hobbies found it frustrating.
Young people in China pointed to the political repression, economic woes and workplace discrimination as well. Shanghai resident Zhao Di is one such individual who is facing mental health difficulties. “Not a single person I know has told me they’re happy. People of our generation living [in today’s China] are trapped in a general state of depression,” she said.
There has been a surge in suicides committed by people with depression in China. This includes children of age between 5 and 14. Even a successful singer named Coco Lee killed herself as she suffered from depression. It sparked mental health discussion on Chinese social media. There has been a surge in demand for mental health professionals. However, the Beijing government regards it as an imported form of Western-influenced bourgeois decadence.
Many in China blamed the excesses by the government during the Zero Covid programme for deteriorating mental health conditions. The youth was particularly affected due to the loss of jobs. “Mental health issues occurred during the pandemic. Trouble with people’s income, trouble to find a job – people’s anxiety has always been there, and is even increasing,” said Dr Jia Miao, assistant professor of sociology at Shanghai New York University.
A volunteer works at a nucleic acid testing site in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan/IANS)
Things are getting worse for teenagers in China since they do not seek help for mental health problems, unlike adults, said Unicef. “Children in China are facing increasing stress and competition at school, high parental expectations, and rapidly changing socio-economic conditions. Mental health conditions are a major burden of disease for adolescents in China,” it said. Institute of Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that about 25 percent of children in the country showed depressive symptoms while 7.4 percent were at severe risk of getting major depression.
Xiang Biao, Director at Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, said Chinese society struggled to keep up with the economic progress, leaving the youth to cope with mental stress that was not witnessed in the past 40 years. “The previous pressure that stemmed from hopes for work, and the current pressure arising from a fear of being eliminated from the competition due to a lack of work opportunities,” he said.
As Ramadan begins, China's Muslims face fasting ban, monitoring
Hoping to be resettled in Turkey via Malaysia, the Uyghurs faced significant bureaucratic hurdles, with only around 100 managing to navigate the obstacles posed by officials…reports Asian Lite News
Over 50 legislators from various countries have urged the United Nations to ensure the safety of 48 Uyghurs who have been held in detention in Thailand for over ten years, Radio Free Asia reported.
Since 2014, four dozen Uyghur men have been confined at Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre (Suan Phlu) after attempting to flee persecution in China by passing through Thailand.
According to Thai authorities and humanitarian organisations, they are part of a group of over 500 Uyghurs who fled China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Southeast Asia.
Hoping to be resettled in Turkey via Malaysia, the Uyghurs faced significant bureaucratic hurdles, with only around 100 managing to navigate the obstacles posed by officials, as reported by Radio Free Asia.
During the exodus from late 2013 to 2014, Thai immigration authorities detained over 350 Uyghurs, arresting them in March 2014, according to official records. Of those detained, at least 172 women and children were sent to Turkey, while 109 or more were forcibly deported back to China, where their current condition remains unknown.
The remaining Uyghurs have been detained as illegal immigrants, not refugees, in harsh conditions, with limited contact with the outside world, according to human rights organisations. These groups have raised concerns that the Uyghurs could face significant risks if sent back to China. Since Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, it does not grant refugee status or protection.
According to the report, in a letter dated November 10 to Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), members of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) described the conditions at the detention center as “life-threatening,” highlighting that five detainees, including two children, have already died while in custody.
IPAC expressed concern that, since Thailand has not yet adopted the principle of non-refoulement, the Uyghurs face the threat of deportation to China, where they are “highly likely to face persecution, imprisonment, or worse.”
In the letter, 55 lawmakers from 26 different parliaments stated, “This must not be allowed to happen.” They further noted, “We understand that some foreign governments may be willing to offer resettlement for this group of Uyghur men… We urge you to intervene in this matter to ensure their safety.”
IPAC’s letter followed the publication of a detailed account in The New York Times Magazine about Hasan Imam, a young Uyghur man who was once detained at Suan Phlu before escaping to Turkey in 2018. The article revealed that Uyghurs held at the facility are “regularly denied visits and legal assistance,” suffer from poor health, and are confined to overcrowded cells around the clock.
The article also examines how the Uyghurs have become pawns in global diplomacy, with Thailand unwilling to upset China, its growing trade partner, by releasing the detainees, nor willing to confront the West, which holds countries to stricter human rights standards. The article suggested that the UN may also be constrained, as assisting Uyghur asylum seekers could jeopardise its operations in China, risking retaliation from Beijing.
In response to the letter, RFA Uyghur contacted the UNHCR and was told by a representative that the agency is “deeply concerned” about the prolonged detention of the Uyghurs and the lack of resolution.
The representative stated that the UNHCR is actively engaging with Thai authorities, “continuously advocating for an end” to the situation, but declined to provide further details, citing “confidentiality constraints” and the need to “avoid undermining efforts to resolve this highly sensitive issue.” (ANI)
The move by the Chinese authorities appears to be an attempt to manage public outrage over the government’s response to the tragedy, which left 35 people dead and 43 others injured…reports Asian Lite News
Authorities in Zhuhai, a city in southern China, have removed memorials, including wreaths, candles, and bottles of Chinese alcohol, placed at the site of a deadly car-ramming attack, Al Jazeera has reported.
The move by the Chinese authorities appears to be an attempt to manage public outrage over the government’s response to the tragedy, which left 35 people dead and 43 others injured.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday when a 62-year-old man, identified by his surname Fan, drove his SUV through a gate of a sports complex in Guangdong province, running over people who were exercising inside, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Following the attack, there was a significant delay in the government’s announcement of the death toll, with initial police reports failing to mention any fatalities. The slow response, combined with the removal of videos related to the attack, sparked public anger on Chinese social media, where posts criticising the government’s handling were swiftly censored, Al Jazeera reported.
By Wednesday afternoon, a hashtag associated with the attack had been taken down from the top spot on the well-known social media platform Weibo.
The attack is the deadliest mass killing in China in nearly a decade and is considered the worst since a vehicle ramming and bomb attack in Urumqi in 2014, which killed 43 people and injured more than 90. Authorities have suggested that Fan’s actions may have been driven by “dissatisfaction with the division of property following his divorce.”
In the wake of the attack, Zhuhai authorities increased security at the site and moved the memorial items to a “mourning hall” inside the complex, which is not accessible to the public. While Fan, who had self-inflicted himself with a knife after the attack, is in a coma and unable to be questioned, police said the incident appears to have been personally motivated, Al Jazeera reported.
The attack coincided with China’s major aviation exhibition in Zhuhai, which attracted widespread media attention. Although there’s no indication the two events were linked, the timing may have been an attempt by citizens to draw attention to the tragedy amidst the ongoing coverage of the airshow.
Violent crimes are relatively rare in China, but the country has seen a series of deadly incidents in recent months. In response to the Zhuhai attack, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “strictly guard against the occurrence of extreme cases”, as reported by Xinhua. (ANI)
One of the most profound revelations at Zhuhai Air Show 2024 is the J-35A stealth fighter. With the arrival of the J-35 platform alongside the J-20, China will have two operational fifth-generation stealth fighter types in service. This makes it the second country in the world to do so, following in the footsteps of the USA that operates both the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor….reports Asian Lite News
The extraordinary energy and innovation of China’s military-industrial complex show few signs of waning, if exhibits at this year’s spectacular Zhuhai Air Show in southern China, not far from Hong Kong, are anything to go by.
More formally known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, the 2024 edition is being held in the coastal city of Zhuhai 12-17 November.
Whether it is jet engines screaming overhead during aerobatic demonstrations, diesel engines propelling heavy armoured vehicles over obstacles, or missiles, drones and other technology sitting resplendent in exhibition halls, this air show is the occasion where China shows off its military and technological prowess.
However, the biennial show is still in recovery mode after the impact of COVID-19 and an increasingly authoritarian attitude towards foreign companies and overseas media.
The largest ever iteration of the show occurred in 2018, when 150,000 trade visitors and 300,000 members of the general public flocked to the six-day show. In the same year, 425 members of the media attended.
However, this year foreign media are not welcome, a similar case to the preceding 2022 edition when just 193 journalists, all from China, attended. Figures for this year’s event are not yet available, but organizers were talking it up as the largest show ever in Zhuhai.
One of the most profound revelations at Zhuhai Air Show 2024 is the J-35A stealth fighter in People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) markings. There had been rumours last year that the PLAAF was interested in this brand new fighter platform, and the examples that are appearing this week in Zhuhai are likely to be initial operational training and evaluation aircraft, according to Rick Joe, an expert on the PLA and a regular contributor to The Diplomat publication. He told ANI that he doubts the J-35A is yet operational in any frontline capacity.
The J-35A bears a lot of external similarities to the American-designed and built F-35 from Lockheed Martin. With the arrival of the J-35 platform alongside the J-20, China will have two operational fifth-generation stealth fighter types in service. This makes it the second country in the world to do so, following in the footsteps of the USA that operates both the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor.
What then is the role of the J-35A in the PLAAF?
Joe told ANI, “I see the J-35A as a lower-cost, medium-weight, not-quite-as-long-range complement to the J-20/J-20A. However, its role does not particularly differ, i.e. the J-35A is likely still an air superiority aircraft primarily, with a secondary strike role like the J-20.”
The analyst also expects the J-35A to be as well-equipped as the J-20/J-20A in terms of sophistication of weapons, avionics and prioritization of signature reduction. The twin-engine J-35A is slightly smaller than the J-20, and some manufacturing techniques should ensure it is cheaper to build than its brethren.
With the arrival of the J-35A developed and manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, Joe does not expect J-20/J-20A procurement to slow at all, however. Indeed, the arrival of the J-35A “may be due to a desire to further increase fifth-gen procurement rates as soon as possible, on top of the expansion of J-20/J-20A procurement rates that we’ve seen CAC [Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group] undergo in recent years”.
Of course, the PLAAF’s J-35A fighter is piggybacking on the J-35 for the PLA Navy (PLAN). The navy will acquire the carrier-borne J-35 version to operate off its growing fleet of aircraft carriers. Joe speculated that, by procuring a conventional J-35A, then the air force can leverage development and future operational costs otherwise borne solely by the PLAN.
An export version of the J-35A is also likely (perhaps to be called the J-35AE), with Joe saying that such a version “may be more appealing to overseas customers, because PLA procurement guarantees an upgrade and sustainment pathway”. Many in Pakistan have been claiming for some time that Islamabad will buy the J-35A, even though there has been no hard evidence or announcements from official sources that the platform has been procured to date.
Returning to the PLAN’s J-35 version, Joe believes it is currently in advanced testing.”They’re very secretive, so it is hard to say what they are doing at this stage, but I would not be surprised if the PLAN had a couple of airframes in initial operational test and evaluation, and it probably will not take too long for carrier compatibility flight testing to commence at sea.” This commentator said the J-35 would be compatible with new catapult-equipped carriers as well as two older Russian-style carriers that have only a ski jump ramp.
The J-35A was not the only fighter to debut at this year’s Zhuhai Air Show.
Another making its maiden appearance was a J-15T fighter of the PLAN. The latest in a family line of carrier-borne fighters, the J-15T is designed to operate on catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) carriers such as the newest Fujian, which is yet to be commissioned into the Chinese navy.
The J-15T appearing at Zhuhai appears to be a late prototype, according to Joe, as it uses domestically manufactured WS10 engines rather than Russian AL-31 jets. Also in attendance at this year’s extravaganza is the J-15D, which is a specialist carrier-borne electronic warfare version of this fighter. Indeed, PLAN aviation is out in force in Zhuhai, for a Z-20J anti-submarine warfare helicopter also participated.
The Z-20, a Chinese copy of the successful American Black Hawk helicopter family, is expanding into a number of different variants, and the Z-20J is important to the navy as it slots in size between the compact Z-9 and large Z-8 families.
Of interest, Russia sent its new fifth-generation Su-57 fighter to perform an aerial display in the skies over Zhuhai too. The Russian Air Force also dispatched its Russian Knights aerobatic display team to perform for the Chinese public. The appearance of the former, especially, speaks of the close relations between China and Russia, as well as cash-strapped Moscow’s attempts to find buyers of the aircraft.
Some were hopeful that China’s mysterious H-20 stealth bomber would put in an appearance, but it is probably too early in its development for this to occur. Instead, to tease and tantalize, computer-generated images showed a video of a hypothetical H-20 working alongside J-35A fighters.
AVIC, China’s premier state-owned aerospace company, displayed a full-size mock-up of a sixth-generation fighter at Zhuhai, but this was nothing more than a fantasy item.
China is known to be working on a sixth-generation fighter, tentatively called the J-XD, but it is so secretive that visitors can be certain it does not resemble the fake fighter on display this year at Zhuhai.
Also new was a mock-up of a PL-15E air-to-air missile with a folding tail. This is significant, Joe said, because it would enable the J-20 and J-35 to carry six such missiles in their internal weapons bay, rather than the current four that they can accommodate. It is unclear if the PL-15E has been updated in terms of propulsion and guidance, but China is known to be developing another new beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. Again, up to six such missiles are expected to be carried by the J20 and J-35.
China is renowned for producing a dazzling array of drones, and one highlight this year is a CH-7 stealthy flying-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation (CASC). Video footage of one undergoing flight testing at some unknown location was the first definitive evidence of the CH-7 since a model of the design with 22m wingspan appeared at Zhuhai 5-6 years ago. A mock-up of the CH-7 was exhibited alongside a YJ-21E anti-ship missile, a hypersonic weapon that can be launched by the UCAV and which was unveiled at Zhuhai Air Show 2022.
Whilst on the topic of unmanned technology, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) sailed its high-speed 500-ton unmanned surface vessel (USV) to Zhuhai for the show. This adds a new dimension to the air show, since vessels can now tie up in the water at the venue.
Christened the Orca and officially known as the JARI-USV-A, this USV is 58m long, has a beam of 23m and can sail more than 4,000nm. It employs a trimaran hull, and can be used for missions such as strike, air defence, missile interception, anti-submarine warfare and autonomous combat.
Its armaments include a remote-controlled weapon station, a vertical launch system for anti-ship missiles and air defence missiles, as well as rockets.
The Orca even has a stern flight deck that can land a drone or perhaps a small helicopter. Returning to land, another important debut is the HQ-19 air defence system belonging to the PLAAF. This is the Chinese equivalent of the American THAAD system, which stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defence.
Mounted on a heavy 8×8 truck chassis, the HQ-19 is a Chinese system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles. Six missiles are carried in cylindrical canisters on each launcher vehicle, and the weapons are launched from a near vertical angle.
(241112) — ZHUHAI, Nov. 12, 2024 (Xinhua) — A China’s J-35A stealth fighter jet takes part in a performance during Airshow China in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province, Nov. 12, 2024. The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, kicked off in Zhuhai on Tuesday.
Among the highlights, China’s J-20 and J-35A stealth fighter jets, as well as Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet, staged flying shows one after another. This is the first time that the three types of stealth fighters from China and Russia have been exhibited at the same time in Airshow China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Hyping it up, Chinese commentators claim the HQ-19 has robust countermeasures capabilities, and that it can intercept both ballistic and hypersonic missiles. However, China remains coy on its range and intercept altitude. The fact that it is appearing in Zhuhai indicates that it has already entered PLA service.
Another interesting air defence system on display is the HQ-17AE unmanned ground vehicle. This 8×8 chassis is bristling with dozens of two different types of surface-to-air missiles, as well as radars and electro-optic system to pinpoint incoming targets. It seems optimized for defending against drones and loitering munitions. China is also pursuing other armaments to counter drones.
One is the CS/SS2A land-based close-in weapon station, a self-propelled PLB-625E antiaircraft gun, and an 8×8 truck that boasts a high-energy microwave weapon system.
Elsewhere, other land systems from state-owned Norinco also appeared at Zhuhai Air Show 2024. Based on a common 8×8 chassis is a variety of new vehicles.
The SH16A is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer variant, while the VN23 is an 8×8 fire support vehicle armed with a 125mm cannon in a turret. The VN22B is a 6×6 vehicle armed with a 105mm cannon.
China has enjoyed a lot of success selling armoured vehicles, particularly to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and Iraq was recently confirmed as a buyer of the VN22 6×6 armoured personnel carrier.
Whilst on the topic of artillery, Norinco showed a new 8×8 truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher. It features two pods, each with five 300mm long-range rockets.
Summarizing the event in Zhuhai, Joe commented, “Overall, we are seeing the usual pattern where the aircraft and systems they display at Zhuhai are ones that we have mostly known about for a while and/or are either in service for a while or on the cusp of entering service.”
However, that does not diminish the unique chance at Zhuhai to get close up to new in-service PLA equipment as well as future technology, in a country that jealously guards military secrets and displays a sense of paranoia when it comes to revealing its latest defence equipment. (ANI)
BEIJING, Nov. 8, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R) welcome U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) and his wife Melania Trump at the Palace Museum, or the Forbidden City, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2017. They had an informal afternoon tea in the Baoyun Building, also known as the Hall of Embodied Treasures, in the southwestern corner of the Forbidden City. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi/IANS)
With new technology restrictions and Trump’s expected hard-line stance on Beijing, the superpowers’ already fragile relationship may face further strain….reports Asian Lite News
Since Donald Trump’s victory in the US Presidential Elections, the Chinese yuan has been trading below the central bank’s official fixing rate, signalling market expectations of a weaker currency as the US administration prepares to take a harder stance and possibly launch new trade wars, the Asia Times reported on Monday.
While this might seem like a reasonable assumption, People’s Bank of China Governor Gongsheng and, for now, President Xi Jinping, have strong reasons to prevent a sharp depreciation of the currency, according to the report.
The primary concern is maintaining investor confidence. A significant drop in the yuan could send a negative signal to global investors, suggesting deeper problems in China’s economy, which is already grappling with a severe property crisis, worsening deflation, and large-scale capital outflows.
However, the real uncertainty lies in how Donald Trump’s anticipated trade policies might push China to reconsider its approach to currency management, potentially triggering a deliberate devaluation of the yuan, as reported by the Asia Times.
Earlier, a report by CNN stated that Trump’s re-election is expected to bring aggressive trade policies, including tariffs as high as 60 per cent on Chinese goods, potentially disrupting global supply chains and impacting China’s economic growth.
With new technology restrictions and Trump’s expected hard-line stance on Beijing, the superpowers’ already fragile relationship may face further strain.
But while Trump’s protectionist trade stance and transactional approach to foreign policy could put significant pressure on China, it may also lead to opportunities for Beijing. As Trump’s stance threatens US alliances and global leadership, Beijing sees potential to fill the vacuum left by an “America First” approach and to assert a new global order less reliant on the US, reported CNN.
“Trump’s return to power will certainly bring greater opportunities and greater risks for China,” said Shen Dingli, a foreign policy analyst based in Shanghai. “Whether it eventually leads to more risks or more opportunities depends on how the two sides interact with each other.”
Officially, China’s response has remained neutral. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it “respected” the American electoral outcome, while Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Trump on Thursday. Trump has often praised Xi, calling him “a very good friend,” despite the marked downturn in US-China relations during his first term. (ANI)
The development comes after October’s car bombing outside the Karachi airport that targeted Chinese investors…writes Hamza Ameer
China continues to vigorously push the proposal of deploying its own security staff for thousands of its citizens working in Pakistan following several deadly attacks carried against Chinese workers in the country which have severely jolted Islamabad’s relationship with Beijing in recent times.
The development comes after October’s car bombing outside the Karachi airport that targeted Chinese investors and engineers associated with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure projects. The targeted attack resulted in the death of two Chinese workers.
A furious Beijing saw it as a major security failure on part of Pakistani agencies and pitched for a joint security management system in future that allows it to deploy its own personnel to safeguard the Chinese citizens.
As per sources, Beijing’s proposal was put forward during Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang’s visit to Pakistan last month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.
Li Qiang was the first Chinese premier to visit Pakistan in more than a decade and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally received him at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi.
It is believed that after several closed-door meetings, China’s proposal to have its own security personnel on Pakistani soil could eventually get approval from the local government.
“A written proposal was sent to Islamabad by Beijing. It was forwarded to the security agencies for review. The proposal allows the dispatching of security agencies and military forces into each other’s territory to assist in counter-terrorism missions and conduct joint strikes,” a source mentioned.
However, several high-ranking officials have also cast a serious doubt over the entire proposal, asserting that the move could have serious consequences for the country in future.
“Pakistan would prefer getting Chinese help in improving its intelligence and surveillance capabilities instead of direct involvement,” said a top government official.
China too is currently maintaining secrecy on the ongoing security cooperation talks with Pakistan.
“China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan and make joint efforts to do its utmost to maintain the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson remarked while emphasising that he had no details on the joint security plan.
The intensity of the Karachi bombing and the investigation into the incident has angered Beijing as it has revealed the role played by an insider in securing details of the itinerary and route of the engineers, who were returning to Pakistan from Thailand.
Several countries, including the United States, could raise their strong objection to the move as they have already raised serious concerns in the past over the expanding Chinese footprint in Pakistan.
