Another Look At China's Military

Chinese soldiers of the People's Liberation Army prepare for an honor ceremony for U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as he arrives at the Bayi building in Beijing, Jan. 10, 2011. Gates met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and his staff at the ministry and held a press conference there. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

China's Military Comes Into Its Own -- Stratfor

Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting the United States, perhaps his last state visit as president before China begins its generational leadership transition in 2012. Hu’s visit is being shaped by the ongoing China-U.S. economic dialogue, by concerns surrounding stability on the Korean Peninsula and by rising attention to Chinese defense activity in recent months. For example, China carried out the first reported test flight of its fifth-generation combat fighter prototype, dubbed the J-20, during U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ visit to China the previous week.

The development and test flight of China’s J-20 is not insignificant, but it is also by no means a game changer in the U.S.-China defense balance. More intriguingly, the test highlights how China’s military increasingly is making its interests heard.

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My Comment: A clean and concise summary on China's military.