China air force plays up J-20 stealth strength as Taiwan tensions brew
- PLA highlights fighter’s combat capacity in drill led by junior pilot from the Eastern Theatre Command
- Pilot shoots down 17 enemy planes without loss in exercise, report says
According to the report, the pilot, Chen Xinhao, had just 100 hours in the J-20 and is from the PLA Air Force’s elite Wang Hai Unit under the Eastern Theatre Command, which would spearhead any military campaign in a conflict with Taiwan.
Chen and his wingmen challenged “multiple waves of enemy planes from different directions” and knocked down a total of 17 with “0 damage” on his side, the report said.
The report did specify the opponents in the exercise but three J-16 multirole fighters were also pictured in the report.
Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary, and tensions have risen between the two in recent years, with the PLA mounting regular air patrols around the self-ruled island.