The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has brought a dazzling array of active equipment and staged spectacular flight demonstrations to visitors at the ongoing 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which opened in south China's coastal city of Zhuhai on Tuesday.
This year, the PLA Navy opened an indoor exhibition hall at the airshow for the first time, mainly exhibiting two sections of aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and opened a navy flight recruitment theme exhibition area and an interactive experience area to introduce the recruitment and training of carrier-based aircraft pilots to the public.
In the outdoor static display area, the PLA Navy also exhibited the domestically-produced J-15T carrier-based fighter jets, Z-9F shipborne anti-submarine helicopters, Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, as well as various shipborne weapon systems and maritime rescue and life-saving equipment.
In the flight demonstration section, the Navy also sent the J-15D carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, J-15T carrier-based fighter, Z-20J carrier-based helicopter, and Z-8C transport helicopter for flight demonstrations for the first time.
Meanwhile, marines and the first batch of female carrier-based aircraft pilots also made public appearances at the airshow.
"It is of great significance that the PLA Navy has sent real equipment to the Airshow China for the first time. First of all, by displaying the latest naval main combat equipment in service, people can further understand the latest achievements of the PLA Navy's construction and development in the past 75 years. On the other hand, by displaying the latest main combat equipment in service, it also demonstrates the open, transparent attitude and confidence of the PLA Navy," said military expert Zhang Junshe.
PLA Navy displays active equipment, stunning flight demonstrations at Zhuhai Airshow
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.
Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.
The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.
Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.
Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest
