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Track China’s ambitious aerospace advancements, from the home-grown commercial aircraft to space exploration, and their global impact.

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Aerospace

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Uspace expects to produce and launch the remaining satellites under its “Golden Bauhinia Constellation” project before 2026. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Satellite maker Uspace pivots to AI applications at new tech centre in Shenzhen

The initiative forms part of efforts to operate a network of more than 100 ‘Golden Bauhinia’ satellites above the Greater Bay Area.

IPO

Top Numerical Control rides fervour for aerospace to 80% IPO gain

China airliners

China’s Comac looking to boost C919’s overhead luggage capacity: source

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China manufacturing

China’s airship ambitions progress as first commercial pilots certified at home

The sector is advancing faster than the available talent pool – but officials call licences a ‘breakthrough’ moment.

5
An AS700 airship conducts a test flight above the city of Jingmen in central China’s Hubei province. Photo: Xinhua
An AS700 airship conducts a test flight above the city of Jingmen in central China’s Hubei province. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

Beijing touts mineral dominance, boosts autonomy drive, ahead of Trump’s visit

Ministry of Natural Resources boasts world-leading reserves of 14 minerals and vows to keep boosting output and exploration as geopolitical risks weigh on resources.

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Banking & finance

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

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Comac

VietJet Air to lease up to 10 C909 jets in boost for Chinese aircraft maker

Deal follows talks between Chinese and Vietnamese presidents in Beijing this week.

A C909 in VietJet livery at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport in April last year. Photo: Reuters
A C909 in VietJet livery at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport in April last year. Photo: Reuters
China’s C919 passenger plane

Exclusive | China’s C919 faces ‘final exam’ as EU pilots stay in Shanghai ‘permanently’: sources

Flight tests a ‘final exam’ to be followed by analysis, paperwork and technical verification, but ‘political considerations’ also in play.

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Science

‘Lighthouses in space’: the Chinese jam-proof satellite network to fill GPS gaps

System places powerful light sources on satellites to send coded signals for drones, self-driving cars, space missions to navigate.

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DJI

DJI unveils its first 360-degree drone amid patent dispute with crosstown rival Insta360

The new DJI drone features four propellers, giving it a similar look to the Avata 2, a first-person view drone launched in 2024.

The Avata 360 is DJI’s first full-degree drone. Photo: Handout
DJI

DJI sues rival Insta360 for alleged patent infringement ahead of new drone debut

DJI claims some of the patents were based on inventions made by one or more former employees within one year of them leaving the company.

The DJI logo is displayed on the opening day of the Innovation For All (IFA) trade fair in Berlin, Germany. September 5, 2025. Photo: Reuters
The DJI logo is displayed on the opening day of the Innovation For All (IFA) trade fair in Berlin, Germany. September 5, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Xpeng

Flying car dreams gain altitude as Xpeng affiliate Aridge raises US$200 million

Fresh capital comes as the company ramps up manufacturing of its Land Aircraft Carrier vehicle and pushes towards commercial deliveries.

China airliners

China’s 5-year jet goals target C919 output, a new engine and less reliance

Amid geopolitical risks and supply-chain disruptions, Beijing is looking to shore up self-sufficiency in aircraft components, and an analyst says it has its work cut out.

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Millionaires and billionaires

Adrian Cheng maps out investment plan in line with China’s 5-year plan

The former CEO of NWD plans to spend more time in mainland China this year to scope out tech investment targets.

Adrian Cheng says he has invested in a Chinese robotics firm. Photo: Handout
China airliners

China’s C909 jet gets international uplift with funding for adoptive airline

Chengdu Airlines, an affiliate of C909 manufacturer Comac, has received a capital injection to help widen the jet’s international coverage.

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Lao Airlines, the flag carrier of Laos, has added the Comac C909 regional jet to its fleet. Photo: CCTV
Lao Airlines, the flag carrier of Laos, has added the Comac C909 regional jet to its fleet. Photo: CCTV
China airliners

New brainer: China’s C929 widebody lands partner to power next-gen flight mind

After Comac secures core flight-system supplier for its widebody jet’s ‘brain’, sourcing the ‘heart’ of the C929 remains a lofty challenge.

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China airliners

How a regulatory change could help China’s C919 jet take on Airbus and Boeing

Chinese regulators have opened the door to letting the C919 use narrow runways, which could boost the plane’s prospects in Southeast Asia.

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China travel

China’s expat pilots arrived on a red carpet – now, they’re taking a red-eye out

Well-paid foreign pilots once flocked to Chinese airlines – but winds have shifted as domestic talent steps up and airlines limit fleet expansions.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Illustration: Henry Wong
China airliners

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

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Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s Qwen-3 becomes one of world’s first AI models to operate in orbit

The entire Qwen-3 process – from uploading queries to on-orbit inference and sending results back to Earth – took less than two minutes.

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China airliners

Exclusive | Maker of China’s C919 airliner set to ramp up production: sources

With 8 of the 15 planes made last year delivered to customers in November and December, a source said supply chain snags seem to be diminishing.

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A China Eastern Airlines C919 begins taxiing to the runway at Hong Kong International Airport in January last year. Photo: Eugene Lee
IPO

From labs to listings: capital markets are the next battleground in the AI race

Stock exchanges have become another barometer in the US-China tech rivalry as markets assess a wave of start-ups in real time.

Illustration: Henry Wong
Illustration: Henry Wong
Mainland China

China’s rocket start-ups push the envelope as IPOs gather pace

A policy-backed push to build commercial space champions is reshaping China’s IPO pipeline, with regulators signalling faster pathways.

Banking & finance

Chinese banks join the space race with satellite launches and rocket backing

As China seeks new engines of growth, finance is emerging as an unexpected backer of the country’s commercial space ambitions.

Low-altitude economy

Shanghai to open ‘free-to-fly’ zones covering 46% of city for consumer drones

From February 1, consumer drones will be allowed to fly in designated airspace under new rules to boost the city’s low-altitude economy.

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A drone flies over The Bund in central Shanghai in the evening. Photo: Shutterstock
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