What I mean to say is, F-35 is suppose to be a air dominance fighter that we both agree, however the biggest flaw is that one brace of US military the Marine wants to have STOVL capability, and they want to make F-35 air frame common across 3 platforms, as a result of this a big mistakes was made to F-35's role as air dominance fighter. Because STOVL lift fan made F-35 a lot less stealthy, maneuverable etc..
China don't need to have a stealth fighter with STOVL ability, if STOVL is needed on the battlefield, China can just use helicopters with J-31 as fighter escort. And all of that would be cheaper than F-35.
You're beating a "DEAD DOG" here ace, and the Marines F-35 Bravo is and was the JSF, or Joint Strike Fighter! It was and is primarily a long range stealthy striker, for close air support, it is very stealthy, and it is very maneuverable!
You're attaching your own "archaic" presuppositions here and ignoring the fact that the F-35 Bravo is the first of the JSF to go full operational with the USMC! The only fighter in the world that would actually stand a chance in a one on one, mano a mano with the F-35B is the F-22.
While JSF was to have been the primarily ground attack, the cessation of F-22 production has pushed JSF into the A2A role, while not intended, the JSF F-35A had a nearly 30 to 1 kill ratio against all USAF 4th Gen aircraft.
As to your concerns about situational awareness, even the F-22 pales in comparison to the F-35, and while that helmet is very expensive, and does still have "glitches", it is a marvel of displaying the battle field high and low in glorious glowing green! LOL
The FC-31 has been designed to be an "export fighter" as it has not yet been accepted into the PLAAF or PLANAF? I am imagining that will change soon, and the FC-31 is indeed a very fine aircraft and appears to fly very well, and exhibit very outstanding maneuverability!
