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Return of the 737 MAX in China remains uncertain.

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As the Boeing 737 MAX took off this week for its first commercial flight in 20 months, the manufacturer continues to face the challenges of getting the airliner into the critical Chinese aviation market, where its business has become entangled in the tension between Beijing and Washington.

See also: Gol makes the first commercial flight of the 737 MAX in 20 months.

The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) approved last month that the MAX will fly again, while Europe is going to lift its flight ban in January.

But the future of the plane in China, which was the first country to put the model on the ground in March 2019, is still unclear as to what could have a significant impact on its business, reported the South China Morning Post.

See also: Flyers group challenge FAA approval of 737 MAX.

The China Civil Aviation Administration (CCAA) said last month that it had not set a schedule for the plane’s return and that the model must meet safety requirements to take off again.

“Provided these conditions are met, we are happy to see the MAX return to service in China,” agency director Feng Zhenglin said last month.

“But if these conditions cannot be met, we still have to carry out strict airworthiness certification to ensure safety.

The statement seemed to indicate that Beijing is in no hurry to let the MAX return, although there are currently 96 of the planes on the ground in China.

Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis for the aviation and defense consultancy Teal Group, said it would be a “serious blow” to Boeing if the MAX is not allowed to return to service in China.

“China accounts for about 30 percent of the demand for aircraft of this class. But it is not at all clear whether Airbus can meet all of China’s needs, and China’s domestic programs are many years away from being able to do so,” Aboulafia said.

In the past, global aviation regulators have tended to follow the guidance of the FAA, which has been credited with pioneering aviation safety for decades. But after the U.S. agency was criticized for its lax oversight of the MAX model, it is questionable whether international regulators should follow its lead.

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