Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The participation of China's domestically developed C919 and C909 aircraft at the 2026 Singapore Airshow has attracted widespread attention, sparking discussion internationally. The BBC on Wednesday ran a report headlined "The Chinese planemaker taking on Boeing and Airbus." 

It is not the first time that Western media outlets have portrayed China's manufacturing advancements as a challenge to established players, but such framing is misguided. A closer look at the C919's journey reveals a story of the steady progress of the Chinese manufacturing, rather than a zero-sum "challenge" game.

The C919's development, from the approval of the project in 2007 to rolling off the assembly line in 2015, to the test flight in 2017 and then to commercial flight, is a milestone in China's manufacturing advancement. Known as "the crown of modern industry," large aircraft manufacturing is regarded as a symbol of the highest value-added product, which shows a country's comprehensive strength in terms of talent, industry, science and technology as well as comprehensive management. 

The arrival of the C919 is first and foremost a response to immense domestic needs. China is widely regarded as one of the world's most dynamic and promising aviation markets. George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and CEO of Airbus China, said that despite decades of rapid development, China's aviation industry is far from saturation and still has huge potential for growth. 

Airbus estimates that China will need approximately 9,000 new planes over the next 20 years, according to the Xinhua News Agency. In this context, the C919 will meet the need for advanced, economical, and comfortable domestic aircraft, while also enhancing the resilience of the national air transport system. 

Moreover, the research and development and manufacturing of the C919 are deeply integrated with the global supply chain, bringing together the expertise and technology of many international partners. This in itself embodies the principles of open cooperation and mutual benefit, bringing new market opportunities to the global aviation industry chain.

As the C919 steps onto the global stage, it adheres to established international rules and quality standards. Its emergence offers airlines around the world a new option beyond Boeing and Airbus. This diversification of choice is poised to foster a healthier and more vibrant competitive landscape. 

For the global aviation industry itself, a market structure with more diversified major manufacturers ultimately benefits the resilience and progress of the entire ecosystem. History shows that major leaps in aviation technology have often sprung from healthy competition and collaboration. 

The C919, as a new catalyst, can stimulate industry-wide progress in areas from operational efficiency to green technologies, pushing the sector toward collective advancement. Its core purpose is to contribute through progress, not to displace existing players.

Furthermore, the C919 represents a significant step in the upgrading and systematic development of the Chinese manufacturing. Its fundamental purpose is not to "challenge" anyone in the global market. Instead, it aims through its own progress to provide global customers with an additional choice, create new opportunities for partners across the industrial chain, and ultimately contribute to the common development and sustainable advancement of the global aviation industry within a more diverse and robust ecosystem.

Market data underscores its growing acceptance. As of February 2025, cumulative orders for the C919 approached 1,500 aircraft, of which about 1,000 were confirmed orders, Jiemian News reported in January, citing Everbright Securities data. This indicates that the aviation market welcomes more diverse, high-quality options, and the C919 is meeting the diverse needs of the global aviation market with its own strength.

The C919 still has a long way to go. According to the international practice of the aviation industry, it takes many years of continuous optimization and improvement after the commercial operation stage for an aircraft model to mature and develop into large-scale market operation.

Viewing the C919's presence through a solely competitive lens misunderstands the logic of its development and undervalues the strength of global industrial collaboration. The C919 demonstrates China's manufacturing capability in high-end sectors and, more importantly, its role as a partner committed to working within a diversified and mutually beneficial future for global aviation.