Airbus’ recent delivery of the first A320 assembled in China highlights the Chinese aerospace industry’s emergence as a future potential competitor to the long-held Boeing/Airbus duopoly in large commercial aircraft.

Aerospace market leaders have always sought to strike the elusive optimum balance between capturing value from joint ventures with lower cost offshore suppliers and the market risks associated with the ensuing transfer of capabilities and technology. While industry players and politicians will continue to debate the merits of offshoring when domestic job markets are struggling, one implication is clear: a thorough understanding of the opportunities and competitive threats presented by the emergence of Chinese aerospace will be critical to long-term success in this increasingly global market.

Read more about this milestone at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer