We discuss the global impact of China’s ambitions with its C919 jet, and more
Thursday Jun 26, 2025 | 10.30 - 11.30am HKT
Can C919 and China's aviation leap?
Dear reader,
Submit your questions for our expert panel to answer during the exclusive live webinar.
China’s C919 jet isn’t just a plane — it’s a statement. As Beijing accelerates its push for tech self-reliance, what does this mean for the global balance of power in aviation and beyond?
Join aviation expert Jason Li Hanming and SCMP journalists Frank Chen, William Zheng and Ralph Jennings as they unpack what the C919 reveals about China’s ambitions — in the skies and beyond:
- Can the C919 realistically challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly, or is its success limited to China’s domestic market?
- How do China's aerospace ambitions compare to the practical challenges of scaling up production?
- What barriers does Comac face in securing FAA or EASA certification, and how would global certification – or the lack of it – impact its export potential?
- How are geopolitical tensions and export controls shaping the future of China’s aerospace expansion, and will countries consider political alignment when choosing an aircraft?
Join the webinar to understand how China's aviation advancements are reshaping the world.
About the panel
Jason Li Hanming, Aviation Analyst, Li & Li LLC
Besides his role as a Li & Li aviation consultant, Li teaches at the Civil Aviation University of China and the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China. He has been quoted, numerous times, as an expert in SCMP’s civil aviation news coverage.
Frank Chen, senior reporter, Political Economy
A graduate from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Frank was previously with Asia Financial, Asia Times and Hong Kong Economic Journal.
William Zheng, senior correspondent, China
William is a veteran journalist who has served and led major Hong Kong and Singaporean media organisations in his 20-year career, covering greater China. He is now a senior correspondent on the China desk at the Post. His areas of expertise are on politics and policies in mainland China and its repercussions to the rest of Greater China.
Ralph Jennings, correspondent, Political Economy (moderator)
Ralph Jennings joined the Political Economy desk as a senior reporter in August 2022 having worked as a freelancer since 2011. Ralph previously covered news for Thomson Reuters in Taipei and for local newspapers in California. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication.
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South China Morning Post