Lethe
Captain
3. PB19980515 mentioned that there will be naval variants of the FC-31 other than the carrier-based version, so this most recent test flight might've something to do with evaluations by the land-based arm of the PLANAF.
Not sure why PLANAF needs any non-carrier capable tactical aircraft going forward... I suspect they will find that equipping the carrier air wings and maintaining strategic aviation assets is quite expensive enough.