China made a conspicuous showing at the tenth Singapore Airshow, where military spectacle and commercial ambition were displayed side by side. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s August 1st Aerobatic Team returned to the event after a six-year absence, performing demanding manoeuvres such as a six‑ship rolling formation that underscored improved pilot training and confidence in high‑visibility settings.
On the static line, a large-scale model of the J-35A occupied a prominent central position, flanked by other offerings from China Aviation Industry Corporation. The presence of the J-35A mock-up — alongside a J-10C demonstration of novel manoeuvres — served both as a technological showcase and a reminder of China’s accelerating combat aircraft development, even as the J-35A itself remains a conceptual or early prototype entry rather than a widely fielded type.
China’s commercial aerospace sector was equally assertive. COMAC’s C919 narrow‑body airliner and the domestically designated C909 were on display, signalling Beijing’s continued push to reduce reliance on Western airframers and to carve out market share in regional and medium‑haul civil aviation.
Taken together, the displays at Changi highlighted a broader strategic objective: normalising the visibility of Chinese military and industrial capabilities on an international stage. Singapore’s airshow, a long‑standing meeting place for Asian and Western manufacturers and defence delegations, offers China an effective platform to project technological progress without the heightened tensions that accompany military parades or bilateral naval encounters.
For Southeast Asian states and global aerospace buyers, the show is a reminder that China’s aviation industry is maturing on multiple fronts. Military demonstrators test perception and credibility; commercial exhibits seek customers, partners and legitimacy in a market long dominated by Boeing and Airbus. For the region, the line between commerce and capability is becoming ever more blurred as dual‑use technologies advance and industrial policy supports export ambition.