Aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy launched fighter jets and drove away foreign aircraft attempting close-in reconnaissance during a recent far seas training operation.
Amid heightened tensions, the carrier's flight support unit acted with precision and speed, enabling fighter jets to take off at short notice and successfully disperse the target.
Ren Chi, a crew member of the Shandong, emphasized the importance of coordination and accuracy during high-stakes missions.
"Every part of our support operation must be executed with precision down to the second and without error, so that our fighter jets can be armed and airborne in the shortest possible time, thereby safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests," said Ren.
A single second faster can mean a greater chance of victory. The sortie efficiency of the carrier-based aircraft is the lifeline of an aircraft carrier's combat power.
Today, the launch speed, frequency, and scale of fighter jet operations are increasing more than ever. Yet, acceleration is not simply about speed, it is also about zero tolerance for risk.
Every second counts during launch, while absolute precision is required during recovery.
Landing on a carrier is like "dancing on the tip of a blade," and night landings are even more perilous.
"Visibility is extremely poor during night landings. When a carrier-based aircraft touches down, we must rush to inspect the arresting gear and confirm it is intact to ensure it is ready to catch the next aircraft. We call this cable the 'lifeline lock.’ One end of the cable is tied to the strategic asset of our nation, the other to the lives of our comrades. We are the guardians of this lifeline," said Hao Zhenshan, a crew member from the Shandong.
PLA Nany's aircraft carrier Shandong drives away foreign aircraft with fighter jets in recent training operation
PLA Nany's aircraft carrier Shandong drives away foreign aircraft with fighter jets in recent training operation
PLA Nany's aircraft carrier Shandong drives away foreign aircraft with fighter jets in recent training operation
Residents living in Canada's biggest city of Toronto have expressed optimism that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China can unlock new economic opportunities, particularly in key fields such as artificial intelligence and infrastructure.
Carney is set to arrive in China on Wednesday to begin a four-day visit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, marking the first trip by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Carney during his stay to provide new strategic guidance for further improving and developing China-Canada relations.
Giving their assessment of the significance of the visit and the outcomes they hope to see achieved, local people in Toronto pointed to the importance of deepening cooperation and view the high-tech sector as one of the most pivotal areas where ties can be enhanced.
"I think, of course, China is probably the leader in AI and new technologies. So, I think Canada can really benefit from Chinese expertise on some of the chip manufacturing or just the use of AI in the medical field, in every other finance field and everything. So, I think this can be very important for Canada to learn from China," said Raman, the provincial liaison manager at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
"I think it is a good idea to strengthen relations with other countries and other trade partners that have been probably more consistent. And especially with things going on in electronics right now and chip manufacturing, I do think that it makes sense at this point in time to be reaching out to China," said Jen, a local nurse.
Some see Carney's visit as an opportunity to broaden the economic agenda in various other key areas.
"I'm actually pretty looking forward to it because they could talk a lot about trade. That could be a good opportunity for Canada and China to explore some other export opportunities on energy, and also, maybe pipeline building, infrastructure building, and also, real estate investment and agriculture," said Xiong Lulu, an equity research analyst.
Looking ahead, many residents emphasize that much depends on whether Carney's visit can translate into concrete agreements.
"It would be nice. I hope there's some kind of good relationship between China and Canada. That would be like a great opportunity that we would miss if we didn't create that relationship with them. So, hopefully, in hindsight, [in] 2026 it does happen," said John, a software developer.
"I think if they can settle some trade deals, that will be great. So, I think it will be great for the Canadian economy," said Xiong.
President Xi and Carney last met on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in October, with both sides agreeing to resume exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly advance the development of the China-Canada strategic partnership.
Toronto residents optimistic about Canada-China cooperation prospects
