中国军方拒绝美国太平洋战区司令赫斯特参观J-10战斗机

China rejects U.S. request to see new fighter jet
中国军方拒绝美国太平洋战区司令赫斯特参观J-10战斗机

U.S. allowed to visit China's operational fighter bases

By Bill Gertz
The Washington Times

WASHINGTON -- China"s military recently turned down a request by the United States to see the new Chinese J-10 fighter but allowed visits to two operational fighter bases, the commander of Pacific Air Forces said yesterday.

Gen. Paul V. Hester also told reporters that China continues to conduct aerial jet intercepts of patrolling U.S. surveillance aircraft near Chinese coast, but the fighters stayed at safe distances to avoid collisions like the one that took place in 2001.

Gen. Hester, who visited China for several days beginning July 23, said China continues to hide much of its military buildup and will not answer questions about the pace and scope of the force modernization, prompting concerns for the United States.

“There"s still a lot of unknowns and unanswered questions, if you will. As you have conversations with them, about where are you going in terms of what is your vision,” he said in a telephone press conference with reporters. “There is certainly not much in the way of solid answers to that question of what is vision for your military and where will it lead you.”

The four-star general also said two B-2 bombers last week flew to Guam on a simulated attack mission and were on their way back to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The deployment gave rise to some speculation among U.S. officials that the bombers could be used in raids against al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.

Guam is a major U.S. military base in the western Pacific that U.S. officials say plays a key role in the new U.S. “hedge” strategy of being ready to confront China in the future.

“We deploy people on missions all the time, especially bombers, on long-range practice strike missions, all the time,” Gen. Hester said. “And these bombers [that] flew out of here are headed back home.”

The April 2001 collision between a Chinese J-7 jet and a U.S. EP-3 surveillance aircraft near the coast of southern China led to the loss of a Chinese pilot and the near loss of the crew of 23 U.S. military personnel, who made an emergency landing on Hainan island and were imprisoned by the Chinese military.China rejects U.S. request to see new fighter jet
中国军方拒绝美国太平洋战区司令赫斯特参观J-10战斗机

U.S. allowed to visit China's operational fighter bases

By Bill Gertz
The Washington Times

WASHINGTON -- China"s military recently turned down a request by the United States to see the new Chinese J-10 fighter but allowed visits to two operational fighter bases, the commander of Pacific Air Forces said yesterday.

Gen. Paul V. Hester also told reporters that China continues to conduct aerial jet intercepts of patrolling U.S. surveillance aircraft near Chinese coast, but the fighters stayed at safe distances to avoid collisions like the one that took place in 2001.

Gen. Hester, who visited China for several days beginning July 23, said China continues to hide much of its military buildup and will not answer questions about the pace and scope of the force modernization, prompting concerns for the United States.

“There"s still a lot of unknowns and unanswered questions, if you will. As you have conversations with them, about where are you going in terms of what is your vision,” he said in a telephone press conference with reporters. “There is certainly not much in the way of solid answers to that question of what is vision for your military and where will it lead you.”

The four-star general also said two B-2 bombers last week flew to Guam on a simulated attack mission and were on their way back to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The deployment gave rise to some speculation among U.S. officials that the bombers could be used in raids against al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.

Guam is a major U.S. military base in the western Pacific that U.S. officials say plays a key role in the new U.S. “hedge” strategy of being ready to confront China in the future.

“We deploy people on missions all the time, especially bombers, on long-range practice strike missions, all the time,” Gen. Hester said. “And these bombers [that] flew out of here are headed back home.”

The April 2001 collision between a Chinese J-7 jet and a U.S. EP-3 surveillance aircraft near the coast of southern China led to the loss of a Chinese pilot and the near loss of the crew of 23 U.S. military personnel, who made an emergency landing on Hainan island and were imprisoned by the Chinese military.