The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition has fully showcased China's technological capabilities and commitment to innovation, while concurrently reflecting the nation's openness and transparency in the military sphere, said a military expert.
The event, also known as Airshow China or Zhuhai Airshow, kicked off on Tuesday in Zhuhai, a coastal city of south China's Guangdong Province.
At this year’s air show, the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission established a dedicated zone for information release, which covers four key areas: achievements in equipment, policy introductions, military trade systems, and a forum for military equipment.
The department’s efforts have helped foster international cooperation and the exchange of military technologies, and provided a platform and channels for supporting social forces to collaborate in weapons and equipment construction. This, in turn, demonstrates China's transparency by sharing its progress both domestically and internationally, said military expert Li Li.
"The Zhuhai Airshow is an excellent window and platform for showcasing military defense capabilities. It showcases the latest developments in aerospace from various countries, especially from China. It also demonstrates that Chinese military is a force for peace and defense," said Li.
This year's airshow features an expanded exhibition space with 13 zones, covering 120,000 square meters and attracting 1,022 exhibitors from 47 countries and regions, representing a 104 percent increase compared to last session.
One of the key highlights of this year’s exhibition is China’s advancements in aerospace engine, a critical area where the country has made significant strides. Once a bottleneck in China’s equipment development, aerospace engines have now become a symbol of the nation’s technological prowess.
"Aerospace engines are a key component of any country's large-scale industry, and for China, this posed a significant challenge. Today, China is a leading producer and exporter of aerospace engines, underscoring the country's prominent role in the global aerospace industry," said Li.
China showcases technological strength, military openness at Zhuhai Airshow
Peaceful protests originally driven by economic conditions in Iran spiraled into more volatile and violent unrests as a result of foreign agents infiltrating the demonstrations, Iranian professor Foad Izadi has said.
Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall in the national currency, the rial, and long-standing economic hardships. The reported death toll from the unrest on both sides of the security forces and civilians is mounting.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Izadi, a professor of world studies at the University of Tehran, said that what began as peaceful demonstrations in the Iranian capital and across the country soon grew into something far worse as a result of outside interference.
"Initially, we had legitimate protests. Iran's currency fluctuated, and a number of shopkeepers were affected negatively by because of this fluctuation. It was a peaceful protest, nothing happened, no injuries, nothing. But quickly, we had organized opposition, generally led by the former Shah's son, that took over these demonstrations. So in the last 10 days or so, we have had no real demonstrations," he said.
Izadi said that there are signs that certain foreign countries are responsible for fomenting unrest on the ground.
Writing on social media earlier this month, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is also a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, did acknowledge the presence of Israeli agents operating on the ground in Iran, wishing "Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them."
"We have had riots. We have had Mossad agents infiltrating these riots and shooting at the police. We have had over 100 police casualties in the last 10 days or so. How do we know that? The former CIA director and former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, sent these Mossad agents New Year's message greeting, saying that alongside protesters you have Mossad agents walking, which is true, because Iranian authorities have arrested a number of Mossad agents," Izadi said.
The scholar said the infiltration is an attempt to provoke riots by Israel, which he views as a violent agitator, noting that the country killed over 70,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during its assault on the besieged enclave.
"So we have confirmation on the American side, and we have confirmation on the Iranian side, that this is not a protest. When you have intelligence services of a regime that finished killing 70,000 people just a few months ago infiltrating demonstrations, that is not demonstrations. That's going to be riots," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran if the country's leadership continued to crack down on protests.
Peaceful protests turned violent with foreign infiltration: Iranian political scholar
