Why reports about the J-15 remained hard to judge

Did reports of serious J-15 landing problems show that the aircraft was fundamentally flawed?

The available reports did not settle the question; stronger operational evidence was needed to distinguish real shortcomings from rumor.

Reports that the Chinese J-15 had serious landing problems were still difficult to assess in 2020. Public claims could mix genuine technical trouble with rumor, selective reporting, or incomplete evidence. Carrier aviation tests both the aircraft and the organization operating it, and a peacetime demonstration cannot settle every question. The aircraft's combat performance therefore remained unresolved without stronger operational evidence.