World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
US, Russian-made and Chinese heavy transport planes appear in China
Three major military transport aircraft types appeared in China within a few days.
US Air Force C-17s were spotted landing in Shenzhen over the weekend, and a Russian-made Il-76 owned by China appeared at a firefighting drill in Chongqing on Monday.
China’s own Y-20, known as the Kunpeng, is the third aircraft; it has been in military service for a decade.
The C-17s’ arrival was widely seen as preparation for US President Donald Trump’s expected trip to Shenzhen.
Trump is expected to visit the southern Chinese city for next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
The sightings are unusual because all three of the world’s core strategic heavy-lifting aircraft operated within China in the same few days.
US, Russian-made and Chinese heavy transport aircraft were operating in China within a few days of one another.
Several US military C-17 transport aircraft were spotted landing in Shenzhen over the weekend.
A Russian-made, Chinese-owned Il-76 appeared at a firefighting drill in Chongqing on Monday.
China’s Y-20 has been in military service for a decade.
The C-17 flights were widely seen as preparation for US President Donald Trump’s expected trip to Shenzhen for next week’s APEC forum.
- Who
- US military aircraft, a Russian-made Il-76 owned by China, and China’s Y-20.
- What
- Heavy transport aircraft from the United States, Russia and China were operating within China.
- When
- Over the few days before the article was published on November 9, 2026. The C-17s were spotted over the weekend, and the Il-76 appeared on Monday.
- Where
- Shenzhen and Chongqing, China.
- Why
- The C-17 landings were widely seen as preparation for Donald Trump’s expected visit to Shenzhen for the APEC forum. The purpose of the Il-76 appearance was a firefighting drill.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Several US military C-17 aircraft were spotted landing in Shenzhen.
A Russian-made, Chinese-owned Il-76 appeared at a firefighting drill in Chongqing.
- Aircraft
- US C-17, Russian-made Il-76, and Chinese Y-20
- Shenzhen
- C-17 aircraft were spotted landing at Shenzhen Baoan International Airport
- Chongqing
- Il-76 appeared at a firefighting drill
- Y-20 service
- In military service for a decade
- APEC forum
- Trump was expected to visit Shenzhen for the forum the following week