BEIJING – US attempts to shore up rocky military relations with Beijing were overshadowed Tuesday by a test flight of China’s stealth fighter jet, reflecting the growing rivalry between the two powers. Chinese state media carried photos purporting to show the maiden flight of the J-20 warplane just as US Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with President Hu Jintao — who heads to Washington next week — and other officials.
The timing of the flight appeared to be a snub to Washington, following carefully choreographed statements from both governments designed to smooth over tensions that flared over US arms sales to Taiwan and maritime disputes.
The incident illustrated China’s newfound might and also raised fresh questions about the role of its military, as a senior US defence official said Hu and other top civilian officials apparently were unaware of the flight. “It was clear that none of the civilians in the room had been informed (of the test flight),” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, describing the meeting between Hu and Gates. Gates and other US officials have previously described the Chinese military as taking a harder line towards Washington than the country’s civilian leaders, suggesting the top brass has undermined efforts to improve defence ties. Asked about his view of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in light of the test run, Gates said: “I’ve had concerns about this over time.” “It’s one of the reasons why I attach importance to a dialogue” on security issues between both countries, he added.
When Gates asked Hu directly about the J-20 test flight during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese president and his aides were clearly caught off-guard, the senior official said. Gates confirmed to reporters that he had asked about the flight. Hu “said the tests had nothing to do with my visit,” and had been previously scheduled, said Gates, who added he accepted the explanation.
The Pentagon chief, after a second day of talks, insisted his visit to Beijing, his first since 2007, had been a “positive” step forward but pleaded for patience, saying military ties with China could not be improved overnight. “I think this is an arena where we have to play the long game,” Gates said.
