What Happened
Beijing Seeks Reduced Dependence On Western Aerospace Suppliers
China is accelerating efforts to source local components for its C919 passenger plane, with a focus on replacing imported materials such as sealants, paints, and bolts. The C919, which entered commercial service in May 2023, is crucial to China’s aerospace ambitions, aiming to break the Boeing-Airbus dominance in the aircraft manufacturing market. According to Zhang Xiaoyan, a chief engineer at the Aero Engine Corporation of China, progress has been made in the localisation drive, but reducing dependence on Western suppliers remains a complex challenge. This development was reported by the South China Morning Post.