Largest air show takes off

 

A powerful show: A model of the J-35A stealth fighter jet on display. (Below) people watching the Bayi aerobatic team of the PLAAF. — Bloomberg/Reuters

Stealth fighter jets and attack drones took centre stage as China’s largest air show officially opened yesterday, an opportunity for Beijing to showcase its growing military might to potential customers and rivals alike.

China has poured resources into modernising and expanding its aviation capabilities as it faces off against countries like the United States.

The star of Airshow China, which showcases Beijing’s civil and military aerospace sector every two years in the southern city of Zhuhai, is the new J-35A stealth fighter jet.

Its inclusion in the airshow suggests it is nearly ready to enter operation, which will make China the only country other than the United States to have two stealth fighters in action, experts said.

The J-35A is lighter than the existing model, the J20, and looks more similar in design to a US F-35.

A group of J20s performed a display flight yesterday morning, flying in a diamond formation across a grey sky.

China’s state news agency Xinhua quoted military expert Wang Mingzhi as saying that the combination of the two models greatly enhances the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) “ability to conduct offensive operations in high-threat and contested environments”.

The airshow will feature a dedicated drone zone for the first time, reflecting their increased prominence in warzones, including Ukraine.

This year, the show’s focus is squarely on the military sector as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the PLAAF, but China’s burgeoning space industry will also be showcasing developments.

A model of a homegrown reusable space cargo shuttle will debut at the show, Xinhua reported.

Named Haoloong, the shuttle is designed to be launched on a commercial rocket, and then dock with China’s space station Tiangong.

“It can re-enter the atmosphere, fly and land horizontally at a designated airport, allowing for recovery and reuse,” Xinhua said.

Beijing has poured huge resources into its space programme over the past decade in an effort to catch up to traditional space powers the United States and Russia. — AFP

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/special-coverage/Airshow-China-2024/index.html ARJ21 has a new name of C909, winning 70 orders at the first day of Airshow China Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the producer of China's home-grown regional jetliner ARJ21, announced on Tuesday that the model has been renamed theDomestically developed missiles of internationally acknowledged defense-penetration technologies showcased at Airshow ChinaCruise missiles including CM-98, YJ-12E and YJ-18E showcasing two globally acknowledged defense-penetration technologies have been put on display at the ongoing 15th Airshow China, which experts noted highlighting the range and diversity in China's cruise missile development.ThreeArceseoff stuns Airshow China The PLA Air Force, Navy, and Army, along with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, held a joint press conference in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, on Wednesday during Airshow China, marking the first joint press conference by the three PLA forces at the event.

Looking to China’s 5G success

      

0:16 / 2:18

Malaysia wants to learn from China's success in 5G ...

  

Fahmi: We can learn a lot from them on improving connectivity

BEIJING: Malaysia is attracted by the success of 5G implementation in China, which currently covers over 90% of populated areas and has led to improved connectivity, especially in rural areas.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic) said this is especially so with the country implementing a dual network model of 5G high-speed Internet to provide quality and inclusive telecommunications services to the people.

This was among the matters discussed by Fahmi at a bilateral meeting with China’s Industry and Information Technology Minister Jin Zhuanlong here on Thursday.“During the meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss various topics, including the implementation status of the 5G network in China and Malaysia, the challenges encountered and key improvements or insights we can learn from each other.

“One of the main challenges we face in Malaysia, particularly in the remote, rural, island and hilly areas, is where fibre installation as a backhaul solution poses significant difficulties,” he told Bernama after the meeting.

Fahmi said the discussion also touched on “direct-to-cell” technology involving low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which are seen as a potential solution to address Internet problems in remote areas and regions without Internet connection.

According to data from China’s Industry and Information Technology Ministry, the number of 5G base stations in the nation exceeded 4.04 million as of August.The figure accounts for 32.1% of the total number of mobile base stations across China, with the number of 5G mobile subscribers reaching 966 million nationwide.In Malaysia, a total of 7,191 5G sites have been developed across the country with 564 in Sabah and 551 in Sarawak, while the coverage level is now 81.9% in populated areas.

Fahmi said that during the meeting, they also discussed the 5G innovation challenge, which saw vendors as providers of equipment facilities for 5G in adapting and producing innovation.“This is interesting and I request MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) to conduct more in-depth talks, including on matters such as the use of submarine cables,” he added.

Fahmi said he hoped that the meeting could strengthen the relationship between the two ministries, thereby helping agencies such as MCMC to obtain useful input in the implementation of the 5G network.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders. The first was in Putrajaya in June last year.

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US tech export controls backfire, drive companies into ‘death spiral’

 

The restrictions on US technology exports to China are encountering mounting opposition due to the growing financial losses of American companies and the burgeoning independent innovation capabilities of Chinese companies, ultimately ruling out the possibility of the US being able to force allies into alignment on further export controls over China.

California Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to freeze reported plans to impose fresh restrictions on US technology exports to China, arguing that a further round of controls "could send longstanding US companies into a death spiral," Reuters reported on Wednesday.

To be clear, the US politicians' use of the term "death spiral" does not necessarily mean that they are opposed to the tech suppression of China, but rather highlights their deep concern about the potential harm that measures targeting China could inflict on US companies. 

Such concerns are not groundless. For example, a recent report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York pointed out that US export control measures targeting China have had a negative impact on American companies, as they have caused supply chain disruptions, raised operating costs and reduced US companies' competitiveness. 

The total market value of all US companies affected by export controls on China has been reduced by an estimated $130 billion, the report noted.

There is a growing awareness within US political and business circles that Washington's technology export controls on China are encountering resistance and becoming increasingly ineffective. 

In a recent article published by The National Interest magazine, Brian J. Cavanaugh, who once served on the White House National Security Council, wrote that addressing China's rise as a global leader in electronics manufacturing requires a comprehensive strategy that encompasses economic policy, technological innovation and national security measures. He acknowledged that the US will not defeat China on its own, pointing out that "Washington must reconsider its approach to trade with Beijing, particularly in the electronics sector. Working with allies and partners to develop a coordinated response to China's market practices can help mitigate the risks."

However, regardless of the methods the US may choose to employ in order to enforce its unilateral strategy of stifling China's technology industry, it will be difficult to achieve its goals. This can be attributed to two primary factors. 

First, if US companies are unable to capitalize on the vast Chinese market, businesses in allied nations of the US will become less willing to cooperate with US companies. This is largely due to the fact that China boasts a massive market with a high demand for intermediate products and chips, making it a market that profit-driven companies simply cannot afford to overlook.

Second, the independent innovation of Chinese companies has posed a challenge to the unilateral technological blockade of the US. Washington's technology "iron curtain" has not stopped Chinese companies from developing. On the contrary, US export controls actually have promoted independent innovation in China, helping Chinese companies reduce their dependence on US technology products and enhancing their competitiveness in the global market. For instance, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Huawei Technologies is close to introducing a new chip for artificial intelligence use. Continuous technological breakthroughs are the best response to US technology restrictions.

This is one of the consequences that US politicians should have anticipated. The reason they turn a blind eye to such possibilities and continue to push for technological "decoupling" from China is because they are reluctant to admit that their technological hegemony will eventually fail. Countries that get used to abusing their power often overestimate their own strength.

Washington also overestimates its influence on allies, as it seems to aim to defeat China through alliances. California Democrats wrote a letter urging the use of "all forms of leverage available to the US government to bring our allies along in aligning their export controls with ours." But this approach is unlikely to succeed. 

Washington's attempt to maintain technological hegemony at the expense of global efficiency and the profits of high-tech multinationals has already caused widespread dissatisfaction, because it not only affects China but also the interests of the global economy and world trade. More importantly, today's China has strong technological capabilities and can make independent breakthroughs. Therefore, the containment strategy of the US, left over from the Cold War era, is bound to fail.

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US Destabilizes Bangladesh

No banking on hacked phones

 

PETALING JAYA: Customers with compromised devices will be temporarily restricted from accessing banking apps as banks in Malaysia roll out a feature that detects high-risk malware and suspicious remote access.

In a statement yesterday, the Association of Banks Malaysia (ABM) and Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (Aibim) said the feature, called malware shielding, will be embedded within the banks’ native mobile banking apps.

Both organisations stated that the feature is designed to prevent unauthorised transactions, protect customers’ funds, and shield them from malware scams.

“It will essentially alert or block customers from conducting banking activities on compromised devices,” said the statement. 

Banks that have enabled the feature on their mobile banking apps include Alliance Bank, AmBank, Bank Muamalat, Bank Simpanan Nasional, CIMB Bank, HSBC Bank, Maybank, MBSB Bank, OCBC Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, Standard Chartered, and UOB Bank.

“Emphasising customer privacy, malware shielding is only activated upon the customer launching the mobile banking app and does not run in the background 24/7,” said ABM chairman Datuk Khairussaleh Ramli in the statement.

He added that customers’ banking information and personal data will remain confidential.

Bank Negara governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the fight against online scams is a shared responsibility, welcoming the move by banks to enhance online banking apps with added security features.

“This helps to create a more secure banking environment for all Malaysians. We also urge members of the public to remain vigilant against requests to download apps from unofficial sources,” he added.

Customers are advised to reach out to their banks’ 24/7 fraud hotline for assistance should they encounter a temporary restriction.

When contacted, National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) chief executive Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said the measure is well-suited to address specific challenges faced by users in Malaysia as cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent.

“In 2023, 40% of the total incidents monitored by the National Cyber Coordination and Command Centre (NC4) were malware-related. In 2024, up until June, the NC4 handled 34% of incidents related to malware,” Megat Zuhairy said.

While the temporary restriction is regarded as an important preventive step, Megat Zuhairy said its effectiveness is also dependent on users.

“They need to adhere to recommended cyber hygiene practices such as to only download apps from official platforms and avoid performing online activities through unsecured WiFi networks,” he said.

Malaysia Cybersecurity Community rawSEC chairman Ts Tahrizi Tahreb said the malware shielding technology could potentially prevent several types of banking malware that are used by hackers to infiltrate devices and perform unauthorised financial transactions.

“Some of them include Cerberus which can mimic legitimate banking app interfaces to capture user credentials and one-time passwords through overlays and screenshots,” he said.

Tahrizi added that another type of malware called Gustuff has been known to target over 100 banking apps and can automate bank transactions on compromised devices.

“These malware types often exploit vulnerabilities in mobile banking applications, making them prime targets for shielding technologies,” he said.

Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) said the initiative represents a proactive approach to addressing the growing threat of cyberattacks on financial systems.

“However, MCCA also emphasises the importance of implementing this feature with caution, transparency, and a strong focus on user education,” its chairman Siraj Jalil said.

He added that the criteria used to define a “compromised device” must be transparent and precise.

“The effectiveness of such a solution hinges on its ability to accurately identify compromised devices without generating false positives. A significant number of false positives could lead to legitimate users being locked out of their banking apps, causing unnecessary frustration and potential financial disruption.

“If users find themselves frequently locked out of their apps, they might resort to using web-based banking solutions, which may not be as secure as the mobile apps, or they could turn to unofficial methods to bypass the restrictions, further exposing themselves to risks,” said Siraj.

Tahrizi said banks can further enhance security and customer protection by implementing some additional measures.

“Banks should regularly test their apps through application security testing (AST) and infrastructure security testing (IST). All identified issues should be tracked, with priority given to remediating critical and high vulnerabilities,” he added.

Customers also need to be constantly reminded of the latest potential online scam attempts.

“Ongoing education and awareness of safe mobile banking practices, such as recognising phishing attempts and avoiding suspicious downloads, can empower customers to protect themselves, and this is a very effective first line of defence,” he said.

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China's Chang'e-6 safely returns to Earth with first-ever lunar far side samples

 

Photo: Wang Sijiang

Chang'e-6 - China's latest leap of moon exploration - has claimed full success, as the returning capsule of the craft, carrying the first batch of lunar samples collected from the far side of the moon in human history, safely touched down in designated landing site in the Siziwang Banner, in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday afternoon at 2:07 pm.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended congratulations on the complete success of the Chang'e-6 mission that brought back the world's first samples collected from the moon's far side. It marks "another landmark achievement in China's endeavor to become a space and sci-tech power," Xi noted. 

In the congratulatory letter, Xi also stressed the hope to strengthen international exchange and cooperation in carrying out major aerospace engineering projects including deep-space explorations.

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), as planned, after the necessary ground processing work is completed, the recovered Chang'e-6 returner will be airlifted to Beijing, where the sample containers and payload will be extracted. The CNSA will hold a handover ceremony at an appropriate time to officially transfer the lunar samples to the ground application system. Subsequently, the samples will undergo storage, analysis and related research work.

After successfully completing the Chang'e-6 mission, the Queqiao-2 relay satellite will carry out scientific exploration missions at an appropriate time. It will use its onboard instruments, including an extreme ultraviolet camera, an arrayed neutral atom imager, and an Earth-Moon Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) experiment system, to collect scientific data from the moon and deep space, the CNSA said in a statement sent to the Global Times. 

Stargazers from all over the world have paid close attention to the 53 day-long round trip of Chang'e-6, and applauded Tuesday for the unprecedented feat of it retrieving precious lunar samples from the far side of the moon, while suggesting that these samples would not only help enhance the humanity's understanding of the Earth's natural satellite but also create new opportunities for international cooperation in space studies, including those with the US.

"I do think a successful conclusion to this very complex mission [Chang'e-6] will show that Chang'e-5 was not just a fluke, and that Chinese space engineers really have mastered the challenges of carrying out these very difficult missions far from Earth, it's a real step forward in the maturity of the Chinese space effort," Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in the US, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"The successful execution of the Chang'e-6 mission has achieved breakthroughs in key technologies such as retrograde lunar orbit design and control, rapid intelligent sampling on the lunar far side, and ascent from the lunar far side. These technological advancements lay a foundation for future deep space exploration missions," Kang Guohua, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The mission not only sets a new record for China's lunar exploration program but also has a profound impact on the global aerospace field. Through the Chang'e-6 mission, China has demonstrated its leadership and influence in space exploration, Kang said noting that lunar soil from the far side of the moon holds immense value for scientific research and deep space exploration due to its uniqueness. 

Since no human probe has directly landed on and sampled from the far side, the soil from this area offers a distinct perspective. The South Pole-Aitken Basin is the oldest and deepest large impact basin on the moon, and samples from here can help scientists study the moon's origin and evolution more deeply, potentially providing critical clues about the formation and evolution of the solar system, he said.

Potential of intl collaboration in space

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's lunar exploration program. China stands ready to continue working with like-minded international partners to explore humanity's common domain of the outer space, realize the shared dream of people around the world to discover more about the moon, and strive to advance the world's common endeavor of peacefully using the outer space, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, commenting on Chang'e-6's success.

The Chang'e-6 mission hosted four international payloads to the moon, including the European Space Agency (ESA)'s lunar surface ion composition analyzer, France's radon detection instrument, Italy's laser corner reflector, and a CubeSat from Pakistan, the CNSA revealed to the Global Times.

Pakistan's CubeSat, the country's inaugural lunar satellite, has sent back the first images it captured on May 10. It also achieved its goal of "successful separation and obtaining telemetry," marking the smooth completion of Pakistan's first-ever lunar project.

ESA's lunar surface ion composition analyzer, jointly developed with the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully completed seven scientific detections after it started up on June 2, with the total detection time exceeding 3 hours, thus achieving the scheduled goal of detecting the lunar surface for at least 1 hour. This payload conducted negative ion detection on the lunar surface for the first time internationally, and the joint team is currently conducting scientific data analysis.

For the French payload, Philippe Baptiste, chairman of the French National Center for Space Studies, said it would still take some time to get all the data, but they are looking forward to it, as "the last time France was on the moon with an active instrument, it was in 1970," Baptiste was quoted as saying in a CGTN report.

The Chang'e-6 mission and its collection of precious samples from the far side of the moon will create more opportunities for cooperation between China and Western countries in space, according to space observers. And it is highly likely that NASA would again greenlight its researchers to access to these precious samples retrieved by the Chang'e-6 mission, however, the difficulties still lie in the US' domestic legal barriers, they said. 

McDowell said he would be happy to see sharing of data between China and the US. The US space observer pointed out however that "the political winds here in the US are still strongly against allowing any large-scale cooperation."

In a November 29 statement, NASA said it has certified its intent to the US Congress to "allow NASA-funded researchers to apply to the China National Space Administration for access to lunar samples returned to Earth on the Chang'e 5 mission." However, NASA made it clear that this allowance applies specifically to Chang'e 5 mission samples and "the normal prohibition on bilateral activity with (the) PRC (People's Republic of China) on NASA-funded projects remains in place."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the Global Times on June 7 at a regular press conference that China is always open toward space exchanges and cooperation with the US. There are, however, difficulties in China-US space cooperation at the moment, which are caused by US domestic legislation such as the Wolf Amendment that prevents normal exchanges and dialogue between Chinese and US space agencies, Mao said.

In a rarely seen friendly move, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reportedly sent congratulations to China over the Chinese spacecraft's landing on the lunar surface earlier this month, saying he was impressed with its fourth successful moon landing, the Washington Post reported on US local time Monday. 

"I've been fairly pointed in my comments that we're in a space race with the Chinese, and that they are very good," he said in a recent interview with The Washington Post. "Especially in the last 10 years, they've had a lot of success. They usually say what they mean, and they execute on what they say."

However, the China space hawk continued its narrative of creating a new space race with China, by claiming that despite China's many achievements in space - which include an occupied space station in low Earth orbit and landing a rover on Mars in 2021 - the US remains on track to return astronauts to the lunar surface ahead of its chief rival, according to the report.  

In a key step toward that goal, NASA intends to fly four astronauts around the moon late next year, and then land people on the surface in late 2026 for the first time since the last of the Apollo missions, in 1972.

Despite competition between the US and China, the two countries will have to find a way to coexist on and around the moon, Nelson was quoted as saying.

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