Chinese President Tells US Defense Chief It Tested Stealth Fighter

(RTTNews) - Chinese President Hu Jintao has told visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Beijing successfully conducted the first test-flight of its J-20 stealth fighter.
Gates told reporters that during his meeting with Hu on Tuesday afternoon in the capital, the Chinese leader confirmed having tested the most modern war plane.
The 18-minute flight from the Aircraft Design Institute near the south-western city of Chengdu early Tuesday afternoon was cheered by hundreds of spectators, Chinese online media reported.
Responding to Gates' query, Hu said timing of the "pre-planned test" was a coincidence and that it had "absolutely nothing to do with" his visit.
The stealth fighter "formed part of China's normal military modernization," according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.
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China defense chief says military hardware drive no threat

Jan 9 (Reuters) - China's military technology lags decades behind the world's most advanced armed forces and does not threaten any country, the Chinese defense minister said on Monday after talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates's visit from Sunday to Wednesday comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington.

"The efforts that we place on the research and development of weapons systems are by no means targeted at any third country or any other countries in the world, and it will by no means threaten any other country in the world," Chinese Minister of Defense Liang Guanglie told reporters after talks with Gates.

U.S. officials have noted quick advances in China's anti-ship ballistic missile programme, which could challenge U.S. aircraft carriers. China may also be preparing to launch its first aircraft carrier in 2011, faster than some estimates, and new photos indicate it has a prototype of a stealth fighter jet.
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