China’s new missile-toting stealth jet enters service

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(World Today Saturday 11 March 2017)

China’s new missile-toting stealth jet enters service

China’s J-20 is billed as an answer to the US’ F-35, one of the world’s

most technically advanced warplanes. Photo: Reuters

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Published: 4:00 AM, March 11, 2017

BEIJING — China has put into service its new generation J-20 stealth fighter, a warplane it hopes will narrow the military gap with the United States, as senior naval officers said the country was building a “first class” navy and developing a marine corps.

In a report late on Thursday, state television’s military channel confirmed that the J-20 had now entered service, though it gave no other details.

The aircraft was shown in public for the first time in November at the Zhuhai airshow and was first glimpsed by Chinese plane spotters in 2010.

Swift, stealthy, and armed with long-range missiles, the J-20 represents a leap forward in China’s ability to project power in Asia and potentially compete with the US. It is billed as an answer to the US’ F-35, one of the world’s most technically advanced warplanes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is overseeing a sweeping modernisation of the country’s armed forces, the largest in the world, including anti-satellite missiles and advanced submarines, seeking to project power far from its shores.

The navy is another key focus for the Asian giant. China’s navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

With President Donald Trump promising a US shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot-button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the US Navy.

Mr Wang Weiming, deputy chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the annual meeting of Parliament that China is speeding up the development of a marine corps, adding destroyers and frigates, and will step up air and sea patrols.

“We will intercept any intruding aircraft and follow every military vessel in areas under our responsibility,” he said. “Our sailors should stay vigilant and be able to deal with emergencies at all times.”

China’s second, domestically-developed aircraft carrier is in “good shape” and now awaiting fitting, he added.

Experts expect it will enter service about 2020, joining China’s existing, Soviet-built carrier the Liaoning.

Another senior officer, Mr Li Yanming, Political Commissar of the Navy’s armaments department, said a “first-class navy should be equipped with first-class armaments”, added the report.

Navy arms manufacturing would have “better quantity, quality, scope, and functionality”, said Mr Li, without elaborating.

China’s military ambitions, including taking a more assertive stance in the disputed South China Sea, building artificial islands and ramping up defence spending, have long rattled its neighbours.

China this year said it will raise its defence budget by 7 per cent to 1.044 trillion yuan (S$214 billion). But its defence spending amounts to only about a quarter of the US defence budget, though many experts believe its actual spending on the military to be higher than the official figure.

China denies it is a military threat to anyone.

Mr Wang Huayong, Deputy Political Commissar of the Eastern Theatre Command, told Xinhua that Chinese forces are for defensive purposes only.

“The aircraft carrier is still in training and trial stage,” he said. “The marines remain weak, and the number and quality of long-distance vessels do not meet expectations.” AGENCIES