By Zachary Keck
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has developed a pattern of sorts in recent years. Specifically, when China is hosting a senior-level U.S. official, particularly a defense official, the PLA shows off some of its new toys.
The most egregious example (though hardly the only one) of this was when then U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited China in January 2011 to meet with President Hu Jintao. The trip was aimed at reducing tensions in what had become an increasingly strained bilateral relationship throughout 2010. However, a few hours before Gates arrived in China for his meeting with Hu, the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) conducted the first-ever test flight of its new stealth fighter jet, the J-20.
The message was unmistakable. This was not only China or the PLA trying to give a firsthand demonstration of its growing prowess to visiting U.S. officials, but rather a very personal affront to Gates himself. Only a couple of years earlier Gates had been leading the charge to end production on the F-22s. This created a contentious battle in Washington. In making his case in a Chicago speech in 2009, Gates explained:
“Consider that by 2020, the United States is projected to have nearly 2,500 manned combat aircraft of all kinds. Of those, nearly 1,100 will be the most advanced fifth generation F-35s and F-22s. China, by contrast, is projected to have no fifth generation aircraft by 2020. And by 2025, the gap only widens. The U.S. will have approximately 1,700 of the most advanced fifth generation fighters versus a handful of comparable aircraft for the Chinese.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat