On July 11, 2026, Chinese media Global Times reported that while Japan successfully tested its reusable rocket, China completely succeeded in the vertical recovery of a launch vehicle, including the world's first net recovery technology, demonstrating its technological superiority.

The article introduced that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on the 11th conducted the first flight test of its small experimental reusable rocket "RV-X" and successfully landed it. According to Japanese media reports, it was stated that if this technology is put into practical use, it will enhance Japan's international competitiveness in space development.

On the other hand, it pointed out that the "RV-X" has a total length of 7.3 meters and a diameter of 1.8 meters, and the altitude of its vertical ascent was only about 11 meters, indicating it was a small-scale "first flight test" in the initial stage.

In contrast to this, the article reported that China's launch vehicle "Long March 10B" was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on the 10th, and the satellite was successfully delivered into its planned orbit. It conveyed that the rocket, which is about 63 meters long and 5 meters in diameter, after being launched to an altitude of over 100 kilometers above sea level, successfully recovered at sea using the world's first net capture method.

Regarding this matter, comments from Chinese internet users mocking and ridiculing the 11-meter altitude reached by the Japanese rocket were prominent, with remarks such as "firecrackers or neighborhood fireworks fly higher," "it's better to throw a stone by hand," and "it's not even as high as a three-story building." Sarcastic comments like "a rocket self-made by a university student in China can still fly and recover more smoothly" were also received.

On the other hand, some users also offered calm views, stating things like "any advanced technology only starts with the first step," and "SpaceX's early Grasshopper experiments also only floated a few meters at first. Laughing at 11 meters is not scientific."

However, overall, comments making fun of Japan's achievements dominated, with remarks such as "I laughed when I read Japanese internet users' comments on this news, where they wrote 'be careful not to let China steal the technology'," and "Japanese internet users themselves self-deprecatingly commented, 'Isn't 11 meters really just playing around?'"