Cutting-edge innovations are taking center stage at the Paris Air Show in France, where exhibitors are unveiling groundbreaking aerospace technologies aimed at revolutionizing the aviation industry.
The 55th edition of the Paris Air Show officially opened on Monday and will run until June 22, with the participation of about 2,400 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions.
Flexcompute, a Boston-based technology company, has brought high-speed simulation systems to the event, which enable faster, more accurate and cost-effective design, testing, and validation of aircraft and spacecraft systems.
"As we have all experienced software and AI and things like computers have got much quicker and much faster over the last few decades. And in many ways, hardware development is not as fast as that, it still takes the same amount of time to design a new car or a new airplane. We want to bring these tools to bear so that you can design hardware at the speed that software is developed," said Mike Park, senior scientist with Flexcompute.
A major focus of this year's exhibition is diversification of global supply chains, especially as U.S. tariffs on the aviation industry are causing turbulence.
"I think it's a good opportunity for the qualified, highly quality companies to diversify. We see companies in China investing in Europe, investing outside of China in Southeast Asia just to mitigate the risks, and also we are in the process of supporting them. We believe that aerospace is really a global business," said Van Gao, managing Director of International Aviation SME Solutions of China (IASC).
Paris Air Show spotlights cutting-edge innovations, reshaping future of aviation
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
