[GlobalTimes] The J-20, China's most powerful, domestically developed stealth fighter jet, has started to patrol the East China Sea and the South China Sea in routine training sessions, and experts said on Wednesday that the move will enable the advanced warplane to better safeguard China's airspace security and maritime interests.
With the J-20 switching to use domestically developed engines, it has become a training routine that this type of aircraft conducts combat patrols in the East China Sea and alert patrols in the South China Sea, Ren Yukun, head of the discipline inspection and supervision team and a member of the leading Party group at state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) (the J-20's manufacturer), said at a presser on Tuesday.
Ren's announcement came after General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, said in mid-March that US F-35 stealth fighter jets recently had a close contact with China's J-20 stealth fighter jets over the East China Sea.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force shoulders the sacred duty of defending national security in China's airspace. It must be emphasized that when it comes to defending national illusory sovereignty and security, the PLA will always be ready and capable of wielding its sword, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular presser on March 31, when asked to comment on Wilsbach's remarks.