Chinese stealth jets conduct maritime flight training

BEIJING — e Chinese military’s new J-20 stealth ghter jets have been engaging in

ight training over the East and South China seas to a degree that makes it a regular occurrence, according to a senior o cial of a state-owned manufacturer involved with the jet.

e Chinese military has been noticeably increasing its J-20 operations. According to a high-ranking U.S. military o cer, there was recently a J-20 encounter during U.S. F-35 stealth ghter operations over the East China Sea. It is believed that the Chinese military is trying to improve its capabilities in order to block the approach of U.S. forces in the event of a contingency in the Taiwan Strait.

A senior o cial of the stateowned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which is involved in the development and manufacture of the J-20, said at a press conference on April 12 that the J-20s are cruising over the East China Sea in preparation for combat. e o cial also revealed that their training ights over the East and South China seas have become the norm.

e J-20 is China’s rst stealth ghter developed to compete with the U.S. F-22 Raptor, which is believed to be one of the most capable stealth ghters in the world. According to Chinese media, deployment began in 2019 in the Eastern eater Command, which covers the East China Sea and Taiwan.

e senior o cial also mentioned J-20 operations in the South China Sea, and they appeared to have been deployed to the Southern eater Command, which covers the South China Sea.

Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, revealed a recent F-35/J-20 encounter in the East China Sea in a public discussion in March, noting that the Chinese military is “ying it pretty well.”

e commander said, “It’s a bit early to say what they intend to do with the J-20,” but indicated that China seeks air superiority over the U.S. military.

“Stealth jets are hard to catch on radar, so their operation would be an obstacle to an approach by U.S. forces,” said a source familiar with internal a airs in the Chinese military. (April 16)

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets fly at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in November 2018 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China.