China’s stealth fighter unveiled

ZHUHAI, China: Two of China´s secretive J-20 warplanes swept over a gasping crowd at the Zhuhai air show Tuesday, potent symbols of Beijing´s aspirations to military might.

The fighters were not announced on the schedule and appeared in the sky just after a colourful aerobatics show by the People´s Liberation Army Air Force.

With no fanfare but an abrupt announcement by the master of ceremonies, the dark, powerful jets rumbled side by side over the sun-baked spectators. Two minutes later one blasted vertically into the sky and the jets were gone.

Swift and heavily armed, the warplanes represent a leap forward in China´s ability to project power in Asia and compete in capabilities with the United States. Beijing is seeking to modernise and upgrade its military both to protect its borders and project power into regions such as the South China Sea, a resource-rich strategic waterway where it has disputes with several neighbours.

This year´s Zhuhai exhibition, the largest ever, features an array of new made-in-China military technology including assault vehicles, anti-aircraft missile systems, drones and fighter jets.

Two huge exhibition rooms showcased the latest sea, land, and drone-based defence systems on giant screens, with enemy ships and aircraft as targets.

Tourists posed next to missile launchers and atomic clocks used to control the country´s homegrown Beidou satellite navigation system.

China´s only international aerospace expo, the Zhuhai event serves as a stage for Beijing to flex its muscles before an audience of cheering citizens and foreign guests from 42 countries including Russia, Pakistan and Britain.