China’s air force displayed a wide variety of technologically advanced weapon systems at the country’s premier air show earlier this week, including the J-35A Stealth Fighter, which appears to be a fifth generation, twin engine, air dominance fighter similar to the US F-22.

China has been investing heavily in all aspects of its military to enable it to compete with the United States on a global scale, including aircraft, aircraft carriers, satellites, and ballistic missiles.

The US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was unequivocal when he said China is a threat to the United States and its allies, not in the future but currently, as leaders in China appear to be investing heavily in anticipation of a potential conflict in the Western Pacific. It will be interesting to see how the incoming US presidential administration responds to such public displays of military power, but I think it’s a safe bet that defense contractors will see a robust and increasing demand for products and services in the coming years as the United States and its allies pivot their focus to address the near-peer threat posed by China.

U.S. officials have increasingly raised concerns about how Beijing’s burgeoning military strength could affect Washington’s ability to maintain an effective security presence in the Asia Pacific. “China is not a future threat. China is a threat today,” U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said in September. “The Chinese Communist Party continues to invest heavily in capabilities, organizations and operational concepts designed specifically to defeat the ability of the United States and its allies to project power in the Western Pacific.”

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-displays-new-stealth-fighter-in-race-to-match-u-s-36e8e040?mod=world_feat3_china_pos1