The aircraft repair and maintenance industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a series of favorable policies at the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China's Hainan Province.
This growth is particularly evident at a one-stop aircraft maintenance base within the FTP, where rows of aircraft are lined up for inspection and repair, allowing cross-border maintenance operations to proceed efficiently.
Since commencing operations in 2022, this maintenance base has serviced over 2,400 aircraft, completed full-body painting for over 280 aircraft, and repaired about 60,000 aircraft components by the end of October this year, catering to nearly 50 domestic and international airlines.
Under the Hainan FTP's supportive regulations, aircraft entering the region for maintenance are exempt from security deposits, and imported parts used for repair benefit from zero tariffs. The policy support is expected to expand further with the official launch of island-wide special customs operations on December 18.
"Duty-free aviation materials and the ability to refuel with bonded fuel save approximately 10 percent to 15 percent in capital costs, giving operators a price advantage in the international market. We are currently providing 24-hour customs clearance service to ensure seamless operations," said Huang Tingting, director of Haikou Meilan Airport Customs.
Previously, aircraft maintenance materials had to be ordered before shipment. Now, they are pre-stocked in a dedicated materials supermarket, enabling payment after use, a change that cuts average parts waiting time by two to three months.
"Currently, we're implementing a zero-tariff positive list for raw materials and auxiliary materials. Previously, items included on this positive list qualified for duty-free treatment. After the anticipated launch of the island-wide special customs operations, we will shift to a negative list management system, which means all raw and auxiliary materials not on the list will be eligible for duty-free status. This change will significantly expand the scope of duty-free materials," said Long Wentao, director of the Comprehensive Management and Enterprise Development Department at Haikou Airport Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd.
Aircraft repair industry booms in Hainan FTP thanks to favorable policies
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on China's Taiwan region have seriously violated the international law and challenged international justice, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said during an open debate of the UN Security Council on leadership for peace on Monday.
The Japanese representative made repeated unreasonable arguments and prevaricated in an attempt to evade the issue, Sun said.
It is Takaichi who made the erroneous remarks first. It is only after that China, as a responsible major country of the international community, made clear its position solemnly to set the record straight in international fora and through bilateral channels, said Sun, adding that China's actions are fully justified, said the Chinese envoy.
Sun noted that the four political documents between China and Japan provide clear-cut provisions on the Taiwan issue, which constitute solemn commitment by the Japanese government and carry legal effect under international law, and there is no room for ambiguity or misinterpretation.
Whichever political party or individual is in power in Japan, they must always abide by the commitment of the Japanese government, said Sun.
"Takaichi's erroneous words gravely violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, openly challenge the post-war international order, run counter to the four political documents between China and Japan, undermine the historical foundations of China-Japan relations, constitute a severe breach of the obligations of a defeated nation, fabricate pretexts for lifting the constraints on Japan's post-war military machinery, severely hurting the feelings of Chinese people while challenging international justice. With all this going on, how can we possibly believe that Japan will honor its professed commitment to a path of peace," said Sun.
Japanese right-wing forces represented by Takaichi have unleashed a torrent of erroneous statements and actions as the world celebrates the 80th anniversary of both the victory of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, said Sun.
Following the victory 80 years later, "we must not allow militarism to be resurrected or permit the specter of fascism to return," Sun said.
China once again urges Japan to reflect profoundly on the crimes it committed in the past, to honor its commitments to China and the international community through concrete actions, and to cease all attempts to gloss over its wrongdoing and get away with it, Sun stressed.
Takaichi's erroneous words violate int'l law, challenge int'l justice: Chinese envoy
