China is increasingly looking to put U.S. airlines out of business, as part of its long-term strategy to challenge American dominance and influence in the world. The U.S. government and the aviation industry are facing a tough battle to protect their interests and competitiveness against China’s aggressive and unfair practices.
China’s aviation ambitions
China has been investing heavily in its aviation sector, aiming to become a global leader in both civil and military aviation. China’s state-owned airlines, such as Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, have been expanding their fleets and routes, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. China also has plans to build its own large passenger jets, such as the C919, to compete with Boeing and Airbus.
China’s aviation ambitions are not only driven by economic motives, but also by political and strategic ones. China sees aviation as a key tool to project its power and influence around the world, and to challenge the U.S. leadership and presence in the international arena. China also wants to use its aviation sector to support its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure and investment project that aims to connect China with Europe, Africa, and other parts of Asia.
China’s unfair practices
However, China’s aviation expansion has been marred by unfair and predatory practices, such as subsidies, market access restrictions, and intellectual property theft. China has been providing massive subsidies to its state-owned airlines, giving them an unfair advantage over their foreign competitors. China has also been limiting the number of flights and routes that foreign airlines can operate in China, while granting more rights and privileges to its own airlines. China has also been accused of stealing technology and know-how from foreign aviation companies, such as Boeing and Airbus, to develop its own aircraft.
These practices have been hurting the U.S. aviation industry, which is already struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max. U.S. airlines have been losing market share and revenue to their Chinese rivals, especially in the lucrative and fast-growing Asia-Pacific market. U.S. airlines have also been facing difficulties in accessing the Chinese market, which is one of the largest and most important markets in the world.
U.S. response and challenges
The U.S. government and the aviation industry have been trying to counter China’s unfair practices and protect their interests and competitiveness. The U.S. has been imposing tariffs and sanctions on Chinese aviation products and companies, such as the C919 and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the state-owned company that produces the C919. The U.S. has also been negotiating with China to improve the bilateral aviation agreement and secure more rights and opportunities for U.S. airlines in China. The U.S. has also been working with its allies and partners, such as the European Union and Japan, to coordinate their policies and actions against China’s aviation practices.
However, the U.S. faces many challenges and obstacles in its efforts to deal with China’s aviation threat. China has been resisting and retaliating against the U.S. pressure and demands, and has been using its economic and diplomatic leverage to influence other countries and regions. China has also been trying to undermine the U.S. leadership and credibility in the global aviation system, and to promote its own standards and rules. China has also been exploiting the divisions and disagreements among the U.S. and its allies and partners, and has been seeking to create alternative alliances and blocs.
The future of U.S.-China aviation relations
The U.S.-China aviation relations are likely to remain tense and competitive in the foreseeable future, as both sides pursue their interests and goals in the aviation sector. The U.S. and China will continue to clash over issues such as subsidies, market access, and intellectual property, and will try to gain an edge over each other in the global aviation market. The U.S. and China will also compete for influence and leadership in the international aviation system, and will try to shape the rules and norms of the aviation sector.
However, there may also be some room for cooperation and dialogue between the U.S. and China in the aviation sector, as both sides have common interests and challenges, such as safety, security, and sustainability. The U.S. and China may also find some areas of convergence and compromise, such as the resumption of flights and travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the development of new technologies and innovations, such as electric and hydrogen aircraft. The U.S. and China may also recognize the need to avoid a full-scale confrontation and escalation in the aviation sector, which could have serious and negative consequences for both sides and the world.
