China scales back its biggest air show as trade war forces cost cuts
- Less extravagant displays and absent performers consistent with a toning down of previous shows’ confident style
- Lack of new warplanes this year compared with recent editions of the show
China has scaled back its biggest air show as the country grapples with slowing growth amid a trade war with the United States.
The six-day Airshow China, held every two years in the southern coastal city of Zhuhai, continued to attract a number of top Chinese military officials to its opening on Tuesday but put on a more subdued aerial display and offered simulations of hardware rather than real weapons systems.
The show has traditionally been a platform for Beijing to parade its growing aviation prowess and advanced weapons in front of aerospace executives, diplomats and international arms buyers since it began in 1996.
However, military insiders said the trade war and a lack of funding in the aftermath of the nationwide anti-corruption campaign driven by President Xi Jinping’s military overhaul forced organisers to try to lower costs this year.
Among the senior officials attending the opening were People’s Liberation Army Air Force General Xu Qiliang, who is a vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, and Air Force commander Ding Laihang.