Chinese air force aircraft formation departs for air show in Egypt

Eight aircraft from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force departed on Monday from an airport in northwest China for an air show in Egypt scheduled for September 3 to 5.

The flight formation includes one Y-20, China's domestically developed large transport aircraft, and seven J-10 fighter jets from the August 1 Aerobatic Team, according to the air force.

This marks the August 1 Aerobatic Team's first performance in an African country and their longest overseas flight to date.

While in Egypt, the formation will perform over the pyramids, with the Y-20 making its debut in an international air show.

Military expert Wang Mingzhi highlighted the challenges of the nearly 10,000-kilometer journey, which involves crossing multiple time zones and adapting to rapid temperature changes.

This mission will test the pilots' skills and endurance, demonstrating the PLA Air Force's long-range mobility and operational readiness.

The participation in the Egypt Airshow reflects the PLA Air Force's confidence and openness, further enhancing cultural exchanges and friendly interactions between the two nations and their military forces, according to the air force.

Established in 1962, the August 1 Aerobatic Team is mainly tasked to escort and perform for honorable guests of the State. Since its establishment, the team has conducted over 600 performances. Currently the team uses China's independently developed third-generation fighter jet J-10 for aerobatic display.

Chinese air force aircraft formation departs for air show in Egypt

The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced that the country's national debt has reached 36 trillion U.S. dollars, setting a new record.

This milestone comes just over three months after the debt surpassed the 35-trillion-U.S.-dollar mark in late July, highlighting the rapid pace of borrowing and government spending.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, captured the gravity of the situation in a recent speech, saying government borrowing is becoming as certain as the changing of the seasons these days.

Since June 2022, the Federal Reserve -- the central bank of the United States -- has implemented a series of rate hikes to combat high inflation. While these measures aim to stabilize the economy, the cost of servicing existing debt has been inadvertently increased. As a result, interest payments now constitute a growing share of federal expenditures, further exacerbating the debt burden.

U.S. national debt reaches all-time high of 36 trillion U.S. dollars