The sky has always been the ultimate battlefield of power. Whoever controls the skies, controls the war. For decades, the United States reigned supreme with its stealth jets, the F-22 Raptor, the F-35 Lightning II, symbols of American dominance. But in 2017, a new dragon took flight. China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon, its first fifth-generation stealth fighter, entered service. And with it, the balance of air power began to tilt.
Now, eight years later, that dragon hasn’t just survived, it has evolved. Upgraded. Multiplied. And it has proven, beyond a shadow of doubt, that China is no longer chasing America’s shadow, it’s rewriting the future of air combat.
Today we’ll uncover how China’s J-20 became a nightmare for U.S. air power, why its successor, the J-35 stealth fighter, is even more dangerous, and how the next-gen fighter prototypes being whispered about could forever change the skies.
Video: Dong Jun speech / SCMP: China’s defence chief slams Western ‘bullying’, rallies regional allies! China’s defence minister summoned took aim at Western nations during a security conference, urging nations to stand up against “bullying” and describing military alliances as groups with “selfish interests”. 南華早報：中國國防部長抨擊西方“欺凌”，中國國防部長被邀請在安全會議上抨擊西方國家，敦促各國抵制“欺凌”，並稱以美國為首的軍事聯盟是“自私自利”的團體.
SCMP: Huawei bypasses Nvidia AI chips in computing breakthrough for China! Huawei Technologies unveiled hardware that it could deliver world-class computing power without using Nvidia’s advanced chips providing a boost to the country’s self-reliance in AI computing 《南華早報》：華為超越英偉達，協助中國人工智慧運算取得突破! 華為科技公司推出的硬體無需使用 Nvidia 的先進晶片即可提供世界一流的運算能力，為中國在人工智慧運算領域的自主發展提供了助力 https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3325942/tech-war-huawei-bypasses-nvidia-ai-chips-computing-breakthrough-china?
Video: China’s Breakthrough with Non-Nuclear MgH2 Bomb 中國在非核氫化鎂炸彈取得突破
The China MgH2 breakthrough in April 2025 stunned the world—testing a non-nuclear magnesium hydride (MgH2) bomb that generated thermal power 15 times greater than TNT. Beyond defense, this MgH2 technology is a revolutionary step in clean energy storage, hydrogen fuel technology, and advanced material science. With industrial-scale MgH2 plants producing hundreds of thousands of tons per year, China is driving both defense industry innovation and the green hydrogen economy. In this video, we explore how the China MgH2 breakthrough reshapes energy, infrastructure, and global technology—from precision weapons to renewable energy systems—making MgH2 the material that could define the future.
Of course. Here is a detailed explanation of the topic, addressing the claim, the science behind it, and the broader context.
China’s Reported Breakthrough with Non-Nuclear MgH2 Bomb
The topic of a “Non-Nuclear MgH2 Bomb” (Magnesium Hydride Bomb) attributed to China refers to a significant and controversial claim in the realm of advanced weaponry, specifically in the category of Enhanced Explosives or Thermobaric Weapons.
It is crucial to state from the outset: There is no independently verified, publicly available evidence from official Chinese military sources confirming the development or deployment of such a specific weapon. The information primarily stems from a single source and has been discussed in military analysis circles, but it remains unconfirmed.
However, the concept is based on sound scientific principles and aligns with global research into next-generation explosives. Here’s a breakdown:
The Claim and Its Source
The claim gained prominence in 2021 following a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), which cited a research paper from the Chinese journal Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics. The paper, authored by scientists from the China’s National University of Defense Technology, described a test of a powerful bomb that used a fuel-air explosive (FAE) mechanism without a nuclear warhead.
The key claim was that the bomb’s blast was so powerful it could be mistaken for a nuclear detonation, generating a shockwave and overpressure comparable to a tactical nuke, but without the residual radiation. The bomb was said to use nanoparticles of magnesium hydride (MgH2) as its key energetic material.
The Science Behind the MgH2 Bomb
The technology is an advanced evolution of Thermobaric Weapons (also known as vacuum bombs or fuel-air explosives).
· Standard Thermobaric Weapon: A typical FAE bomb disperses a fine cloud of flammable fuel (e.g., ethylene oxide) into the air. A second charge then ignites this cloud, creating a massive fireball and a prolonged, high-pressure shockwave. This shockwave sucks the oxygen out of enclosed spaces (like bunkers or tunnels) and causes extreme overpressure that can destroy structures and internal organs. · The Magnesium Hydride (MgH2) Advancement: · High Energy Density: Magnesium is a highly energetic metal. When combined with hydrogen to form magnesium hydride, it stores a tremendous amount of potential energy in a relatively small volume. · Nanoparticles: By engineering the MgH2 into nanoparticles, scientists drastically increase its surface area. This allows it to disperse more effectively as an aerosol and react with oxygen in the air far more rapidly and completely than conventional fuels or larger metal particles. This leads to a much more efficient and powerful explosion. · Two-Stage Reaction: The explosion is believed to involve two stages. First, the heat decomposes the MgH2 into magnesium metal and hydrogen gas. Then, both the ultrafine magnesium powder and the hydrogen gas ignite simultaneously in a massive conflagration with surrounding oxygen. Hydrogen has the fastest burning velocity of any gas, contributing to a incredibly rapid and devastating release of energy.
Why is it Considered a “Breakthrough”?
If the reports are accurate, such a weapon would represent a major leap forward for several reasons:
· Non-Nuclear Deterrence: It would provide a strategic option with a yield approaching that of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons, but without crossing the nuclear threshold. This is sometimes called a “strategic conventional weapon.” · Massive Destructive Power: The combination of extreme overpressure and sustained high temperatures would be exceptionally effective against a wide range of targets, including: · Hardened structures (command bunkers, mountain tunnels) · Soft targets (airfields, naval ports, troop concentrations) · Complex urban environments · Psychological Impact: The visual and destructive characteristics of such a large thermobaric explosion could have a profound psychological impact, similar to that intended by nuclear weapons but without the permanent radiological contamination.
Strategic Implications and Skepticism
· Implications: The development of such weapons could alter regional and strategic balances. It could provide a conventional means to achieve objectives previously only possible with nuclear weapons, potentially changing calculus in scenarios like Taiwan or South China Sea contingencies. · Healthy Skepticism: Many experts urge caution. While the science is plausible, the specific yield claims are extraordinary. · Verification: The test described was likely a small-scale proof-of-concept. Scaling this up to a weaponized bomb with a multi-kiloton yield involves immense engineering challenges. · Secrecy: China’s military research is highly secretive. The publication of the paper could be a signal of capability (a form of deterrence) or simply a report on early-stage research that may never be weaponized. · Context: The paper itself is a scientific study, not an official weapons procurement announcement.
Conclusion
The “Non-Nuclear MgH2 Bomb” is best understood as a reported and potential technological breakthrough based on credible scientific research published by Chinese defense scientists. While not officially confirmed as a deployed weapon, it highlights China’s significant investment in advanced conventional weapons designed to close the gap with traditional nuclear powers.
It represents the cutting edge of thermobaric weapon technology, leveraging nanotechnology and material science to create explosives of unprecedented power. Whether the specific claims of nuclear-like yield are fully accurate or not, the direction of this research underscores a global trend towards developing high-yield conventional strategic weapons that could redefine modern warfare.
Best known for its revolutionization of Chinese American cuisine, TAAF Giving Challenge Partner, officialpandaexpress has become a cultural icon rooted in both the immigrant experience and entrepreneurial drive. 作為 TAAF 捐贈挑戰賽的合作夥伴，officialpandaexpress 以其對美式中餐的革新而聞名，已成為根植於移民經歷和創業精神的文化偶像.
Their latest move? Now, the Cherng Family Trust is stepping into the sports world as part of the group acquiring the TrailBlazers—expanding their influence from fast-casual to courtside power players. 他們的最新舉動是什麼？現在，程氏家族信託作為收購開拓者隊的集團的一部分，正進軍體育界-將其影響力從快餐店擴展到場邊的強力球員.
How does previous empires like the United States acts towards friends? 美國等以前的帝國是如何對待朋友的?
Of course. This is a fascinating and complex topic. The way previous empires acted towards “friends” was rarely based on modern concepts of mutual respect and shared values. Instead, these relationships were almost always transactional, strategic, and hierarchical.
An empire’s “friends” were typically one of three things:
Client States/Vassals: Weaker states under the empire’s protection and influence.
Allies of Convenience: Other major powers where interests temporarily aligned.
Useful Internal Groups: Powerful factions within the empire that were co-opted for support.
Here’s a breakdown of how empires typically behaved towards these “friends,” supported by historical examples.
The Principle of Hierarchy: “Friends” are Inferiors
The core of imperial ideology was supremacy. Therefore, a true equal was rare. Most friendships were with lesser states, creating a patron-client dynamic.
· Example: Ancient Rome · Behavior: Rome established relationships with neighboring tribes and kingdoms as socii (allies). However, these allies were expected to provide soldiers for Rome’s armies and adhere to Roman foreign policy. In return, they received protection and a share of the spoils of war. · The Reality: This “friendship” was non-negotiable. If an ally tried to break away or act independently (e.g., the city of Corinth or various Italian allies before the Social War), Rome would brutally crush them to reassert dominance. The relationship was one of controlled benevolence with an implicit threat of violence.
Instrumental and Transactional Relationships
Friendships were maintained only as long as they served the empire’s strategic, economic, or security interests.
· Example: The British Empire · Behavior: Britain forged alliances with various local powers to secure its holdings, particularly in India. They made “friends” of some princely states to use them against rivals like the French or the Maratha Empire. · The Reality: These friendships were tools. The moment a former ally was no longer useful or threatened British interests, the relationship was discarded. After using the Nawab of Bengal as a commercial partner, the British overthrew him after the Battle of Plassey (1757) when he became a threat. Similarly, alliances with local Maori iwi (tribes) in New Zealand were used to control other iwi.
Co-opting and Assimilation
Empires often befriended powerful elite groups within conquered territories to stabilize their rule. This “friendship” came with benefits but required assimilation into the imperial system.
· Example: The Achaemenid Persian Empire · Behavior: Persia was a master of administration. After conquering a region (like Lydia or Babylon), they would often leave the local elite in place as long as they pledged loyalty to the Persian King (“The King of Kings”), paid taxes, and provided soldiers. They respected local customs and religions to keep the peace. · The Reality: This was a pragmatic friendship. By making “friends” of the local powerful classes, Persia prevented revolts and administered its vast empire efficiently. The moment these elites rebelled, however, they were swiftly replaced.
The “Divide and Rule” Strategy
Empires often fostered friendships with certain groups specifically to undermine or balance against other, more powerful rivals. This prevented unified opposition.
· Example: (Again) The British Empire · Behavior: This strategy was used globally. In India, the British leveraged Hindu-Muslim and princely state rivalries. In Rwanda, they favored the Tutsi elite over the Hutu majority. In the Middle East, they made alliances with specific tribes to control the region. · The Reality: These friendships were deliberately divisive. They created long-lasting animosities and conflicts that served the empire’s goal of maintaining a fragile balance of power that only they could manage. The “friend” was a pawn in a larger game of control.
Betrayal and Absorption
The ultimate fate of many imperial “friends” was betrayal and annexation once they outlived their usefulness or became too weak to resist.
· Example: The Aztec Empire · Behavior: The Aztecs ruled through a system of client states who were forced to pay massive tributes (including human sacrifices). These “allies” deeply resented the Aztecs. · The Reality: This is a perfect example of how not to treat friends. When Hernán Cortés arrived, these subjugated states (like the Tlaxcalans) saw an opportunity and eagerly allied with the Spanish to destroy their Aztec overlords. The Aztec’s oppressive “friendships” became their greatest weakness.
Summary: The Imperial Playbook Towards Friends
Strategy Description Example Patron-Client Dynamic Treating allies as inferior partners who provide resources (soldiers, money) in exchange for protection. Rome and its Italian socii. Transactional Alliance Maintaining the relationship only as long as it serves a direct strategic or economic interest. Britain allying with princes in India. Co-optation Befriending and empowering local elites to ensure stability and smooth administration. Persia allowing local satraps and kings to rule. Divide and Rule Playing different “friendly” groups against each other to prevent a unified challenge to imperial authority. Britain in India, Rwanda, and the Middle East. Eventual Betrayal/Absorption Annexing or destroying the ally once they are no longer useful or are too weak to resist. Aztecs with their tributary states.
Conclusion:
For most empires, the concept of “friend” was a misnomer. These relationships were better described as “useful subordinates,” “temporary allies,” or “controlled assets.” The guiding principle was always the enhancement of imperial power, security, and wealth. Loyalty was expected, but rarely reciprocated in the way a modern nation would understand it. The history of empires shows that their “friendships” were often the first step towards domination or a temporary tactic on the path to conquest.
Why are Chinese the only ones in the world to have achieved “vegetable freedom”? 為什麼全世界只有中國人實現了“蔬菜自由”？
It wasn’t until I saw the reactions of foreign bloggers that I realized this was truly a “super privilege.”
On the shelves of Japanese supermarkets, carrots are cut into three sections and sold in transparent boxes. Each section is marked with a price, and the combined price can buy half a head of cabbage.
Korean housewives worry about kimchi season. Local cabbage isn’t enough, so 90% has to be imported from Pingdu, Shandong, and the price is 30% higher.
These ordinary things abroad are incredibly different in China.
At the vegetable market at the entrance to my community, a vendor wields a knife to cut carrots into sections, then adds half an extra carrot when weighing them, jokingly saying, “To make it even.”
The cabbages on the shelves, still covered in dirt, are sold individually, with the price of one enough to buy two carrots in a Japanese supermarket.
A foreign student who visited New York City reported that Shanghai greens at local Chinese supermarkets cost $3 a bunch and were still stale after being left out for two days. Meanwhile, Shanghai greens sold by the pound in domestic markets are so fresh you can squeeze out the juice, and cost less than one-tenth the price in New York.
This disparity brings back memories of earlier times.
In the 1980s, winter markets in northern China seemed to have paused. The south was a bit better off, but during typhoons, vegetable prices could skyrocket, forcing ordinary families to buy fewer vegetables and save the money for meat.
👉The change began in 1988.
The national “vegetable basket project” launched with a simple goal: to ensure that fresh vegetables were readily available to the public.
First, over five years, 80,000 farmers’ markets and over 2,000 wholesale markets were built across the country, ensuring smooth transportation of vegetables from the fields to the market.
Then, greenhouses in Shouguang, Shandong, solved the problem of winter vegetable shortages in northern China, allowing cucumbers and tomatoes to be available fresh in winter. Summer vegetables from the highlands of Lanzhou, Gansu, are shipped south during the summer, allowing southerners to enjoy refreshing vegetables even in the sweltering heat.
In 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture took a pioneering step by connecting vegetable prices in major markets nationwide to a network. Computers weren’t yet common at the time, but vegetable farmers could use this network to find out which vegetables were in demand, eliminating the worry of not being able to sell what they grew.
👉Our country’s climate also helps a lot.
From the tropical climate of Hainan to the temperate climate of Northeast China, the vast range of climates allows for a wide variety of vegetables to find suitable growing areas.
In winter, chili peppers from Hainan are shipped to Northeast China via refrigerated trucks and can be on Northeastern tables within two weeks. Xinjiang’s high-quality tomatoes, made into tomato sauce, are sold nationwide, their sweet and sour flavor carrying the scent of sunshine.
Looking at other countries, winters in Europe are so cold that vegetables can only be grown in greenhouses, which are prohibitively expensive and make ordinary people reluctant to eat them often. Water shortages in many parts of Africa leave vast tracts of fertile land uncultivated, making it impossible to grow vegetables. Locals can only rely on potatoes and onions, which are easy to preserve. Americans prefer to grow crops like corn and soybeans, which can be grown mechanized, believing that growing vegetables is too labor-intensive and uneconomical, and the variety of vegetables in supermarkets is woefully limited.
Chinese people seem to have a natural love for growing vegetables. Caravans along the ancient Silk Road, in addition to silk and porcelain, always brought back vegetable seeds and fresh produce. During Zheng He’s voyages to the West, his fleet set aside a dedicated plot of land to experiment with new crops, spreading eggplant and cucumber cultivation techniques to islands along the way.
Nowadays, Chinese aid workers in Africa, even those living in makeshift dormitories, use plastic bottles to grow scallions and chili peppers on their balconies, creating vibrant greenery that stands out amidst the weeds. In Southeast Asian Chinese apartment buildings, windowsills often feature foam boxes filled with water spinach and lettuce, which can be picked and enjoyed freshly.
👉 The large population also plays a significant role.
Dense urban populations in China mean that a single wet market can serve tens of thousands of people. Farmers can sell all the vegetables they pick in the morning by noon, eliminating the need for overstocking.
With high demand, specialized growing areas naturally emerged. Garlic from Pizhou, Jiangsu, can be found in half of China’s wet markets, boasting a pungent, sharp flavor. Vegetables from Yuanmou, Yunnan, are exported to over a dozen countries, earning significant foreign exchange and allowing foreigners to experience the flavors of Chinese vegetables. This large-scale cultivation reduces costs, naturally making vegetables affordable and accessible to ordinary households.
European and American countries have small populations, with small towns housing only a few thousand people. If they grow too much, they can’t sell it all, so they can only grow a few varieties, which in turn keeps prices down.
But what about us? Just looking at legumes, there are cowpeas, kidney beans, peas, broad beans, snow peas, and green beans. Many are new to us, and there are countless ways to prepare them—delicious whether stir-fried or boiled.
👉Of course, there are areas for improvement.
From the field to the market, vegetables experience numerous intermediate stages, resulting in losses of up to 30%, which is quite wasteful.
In some remote areas, vegetables are difficult to sell at a high price due to poor transportation. Farmers work hard but don’t earn much, which is frustrating. If logistics could be streamlined a bit, allowing farmers to earn more and consumers to spend less, it would be even more perfect.
👉 Ultimately, being able to eat fresh and affordable vegetables every day is no easy feat. It’s the result of incremental policy changes, the painstaking efforts of farmers, and the tireless efforts of logistics trucks.
While this may seem commonplace to us, it’s truly rare around the world. No wonder foreign bloggers marvel at this; it’s truly a unique blessing for us.
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