China’s first stealth fighter completed its maiden test flight just as Robert Gates, US defence secretary, met Hu Jintao, the country’s president, in a move seen as an anti-American signal by the People’s Liberation Army.
A senior US defence official said Mr Hu appeared not to have known about the J-20’s flight. The remark drew attention to both the possible limits of Mr Hu’s power and the PLA’s seemingly independent agenda.
Mr Gates is in Beijing seeking to prepare the ground for Mr Hu’s visit to Washington next week and to improve ties with China’s military establishment.
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