6 h. ago China’s power bank crackdown: 6 preflight answers for wary travellers

China’s aviation authorities have imposed an emergency ban on air passengers’ carrying substandard power banks, catching many travellers off guard. The safety precaution, which went into effect on June 28, two days after being announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has triggered questions and concerns. Here are six points that people travelling to and within China need to know – from which power banks are still allowed, to what can be done with ineligible ones at the...

Events

32 h. ago China’s aviation power bank ban catches travellers off guard

An emergency ban on some power banks imposed by China’s aviation regulator over the weekend caught travellers off guard, many of whom arrived at airports only to be told that such portable devices could not be taken onto their flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began enforcing the strict ban on lithium-based power banks over safety risks on Saturday, two days after issuing the notice. The ban applies to devices without proper safety and quality certifications or those...

Politics

32 h. ago China’s emergency power bank ban catches domestic fliers off guard

An emergency ban on some power banks imposed by China’s aviation regulator over the weekend caught travellers off guard, many of whom arrived at airports only to be told that such portable devices could not be taken onto their flights. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began enforcing the strict ban on lithium-based power banks over safety risks on Saturday, two days after issuing the notice. The ban applies to devices without proper safety and quality certifications or those...

Politics

43 h. ago Potential Taiwan clash on the line as PLA, US military develop new fighter jets

America’s view of China as a “pacing threat” has shaped its defence priorities as the military seeks to maintain an edge over a rapidly modernising PLA. In the second of a three-part series on how US budget tensions will affect efforts to deter China, we look at the race for air superiority. The high-stakes race for air superiority between China and the United States will have profound implications should a conflict break out – including how a war over Taiwan would be fought. Both militaries are...

Events

61 h. ago Air China's C909 starts first international commercial flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Air China's C909 starts first international commercial flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  Global Times

Society

3 d. ago China thief steals 8 cars during travels to avoid cost of air ticket home

A man from northeastern China has shocked the internet after he stole eight cars and drove them on the journey home, one after the other, to avoid paying for an “expensive” flight. According to mainland media outlet New Yellow River, the man, surnamed Chen, is from Liaoning province and had been travelling alone in Changsha, Hunan province, in central China. On May 31, he bought a flight ticket home for 1,500 yuan (US$200) but cancelled it, deciding it was too expensive. An inveterate car thief,...

Society

1 week ago China ‘unlikely to take decisive role’ as US bombing of Iran tests influence

Even as US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities put China’s influence to the test in the strategically important region, most observers expect Beijing to avoid direct intervention of any kind. They said Beijing was likely to instead focus on diplomatic support for Tehran as the US became more entangled in the Israel-Iran conflict. US bombing over the weekend reportedly damaged three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, marking the most significant Western military action against Tehran since the...

Events

1 week ago Can China’s fighter jets win over sceptical European aircraft buyers?

For European fighter jet buyers looking for ways to spend growing military budgets, the Paris Air Show offered no shortage of aircraft options. Dassault Aviation was out in force with the Rafale, one of France’s bestselling military aircraft, as were US aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin with their offerings. Away from the main exhibition venue, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation gave a glimpse of its country’s advanced military aircraft, presenting scale models...

Politics

1 week ago Outrage as China live streamers pull teeth from black dogs to ward off evil spirits

A live streaming session in China during which the teeth of black dogs were extracted on air “raw and without anaesthesia” in an apparent attempt to ward off evil spirits has sparked public outrage. The online controversy began to unfold on June 12 when an online viewer surnamed Meng, from Jiangsu province in southeastern China, reported that she stumbled upon a live stream session in which people were prying open the mouths of black dogs and using crude tools to extract their teeth. At first,...

Events

2 w. ago Israel ‘ready to keep talking to China’ despite criticism of Iran air strikes

Israel wants to “continue talking” to China despite its repeated condemnations of the recent attacks on Iran, its ambassador to Beijing has said. Eli Belotserkovsky did not rule out the possibility of China acting as a mediator but in an interview with the SCMP on Wednesday he said the country’s biggest concern was its military operation. Asked about Beijing’s position, Belotserkovsky said Israel’s relations with China were “very important”, and that the two sides had open channels of...

Politics

2 w. ago China’s Victory Day rehearsal leaks show stealth jets, massive air formations

Videos circulating on Chinese social media that appear to show rehearsals for a major military parade are providing an early glimpse of the scale and symbolism expected when China marks the 80th anniversary of its Victory Day in September. On Wednesday, a clip posted to the Instagram-like platform RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – showed at least 45 People’s Liberation Army helicopters flying in formation. The aircraft formed ceremonial patterns, including a heart, the numbers “8” and “0”,...

Events

2 w. ago China’s possible peace role, firms flock to air show: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran-Israel conflict China is expected to play an “active” role in trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but analysts warned there may be limits to what it could achieve. 2. After tight-lipped talks in London, the US-China silence speaks volumes A week after the second round of...

Politics

2 w. ago At Paris Air Show, China’s aviation suppliers circle for a landing

China’s presence at the Paris Air Show – the globally renowned civil aviation expo – is usually reduced to Beijing’s biggest names in the field. In particular, conversation tends to focus on the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the maker of the C919 passenger jet. But things have changed this year. Dozens of lesser-known Chinese firms from across the supply chain have flocked to the European capital to showcase their products to Western buyers. The number of Chinese companies...

Politics

2 w. ago PLA patrols in the South China Sea as Philippines, Japan hold joint drills

The Chinese military carried out patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, as the Philippines and Japan held a joint drill in the disputed waters. China’s People’s Liberation Army joint sea and air patrols were conducted by the Southern Theatre Command, its spokesman Senior Colonel Tian Junli said in a statement on Sunday. The PLA patrols were a response to the Philippines-Japan joint maritime drills – their second since August – which Tian called a threat to regional peace. “The Philippines...

Politics

2 w. ago Aukus pact up in the air but US to stay focused on China: analysts

The United States may be rethinking its Indo-Pacific strategy with its review of the Aukus security agreement, but its focus on countering China is unlikely to change, according to analysts. The pact with Australia and the United Kingdom has been thrown into doubt with the Pentagon’s announcement this week that it is reviewing the US’ role in the Biden-era agreement to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Some observers suggested that this could be cause for celebration in Beijing,...

Politics

2 w. ago Aukus pact up in the air but US to stay focused on countering China: analysts

The United States may be rethinking its Indo-Pacific strategy with its review of the Aukus security agreement, but its focus on countering China is unlikely to change, according to analysts. The pact with Australia and the United Kingdom has been thrown into doubt with the Pentagon’s announcement this week that it is reviewing the US’ role in the Biden-era agreement to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Some observers suggested that this could be cause for celebration in Beijing,...

Politics

2 w. ago India, China agree to expedite resumption of direct air services

India, China agree to expedite resumption of direct air services  Reuters

Politics

2 w. ago China, Japan: Close Encounter in the Air as Beijing Shows Off Naval Capabilities

China, Japan: Close Encounter in the Air as Beijing Shows Off Naval Capabilities  Stratfor: The World's Leading Geopolitical Intelligence Platform

Politics

3 w. ago 8 million Chinese viewers moved by boy, 6, who operates crane for acrobat parents

Massive numbers of people across China have watched in amazement as a thoughtful six-year-old boy operates a crane that is integral to an acrobatic show his parents perform. Xie Yule expertly worked the machine that held his parents in the air to perform in a town in eastern China’s Anhui province on a rainy evening ahead of Children’s Day. As rain fell heavily, the diminutive Xie stood on a stool as his hand never left the crane’s control panel, his eyes locked on his parents. His father, Xie...

Politics

3 w. ago U.S. engine and component ban poised to cripple China’s commercial aircraft manufacturing

U.S. engine and component ban poised to cripple China’s commercial aircraft manufacturing  The Air Current

Politics