China will be operational with its first stealth fighter in just seven years, will have an overall modern military in nine years, and continues to close the window on any possible defense of Taiwan should the mainland make a military move against the island.These were among the conclusions of the Pentagon's most recent report on China's military power, officially known as "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China.'The annual report is required by Congress, which mandates that it be timely, factual, and broad-based in its assessment of China's military capabilities.The Obama Administration usually takes a diplomatic tone with the report so as not to inflame relations with China, but the latest edition was required to take note of several mile-stone events: J-20 stealth fighter flight tests, the beginning of sea trials on China's first aircraft carrier, and successful flight testing of the DF-21D, a ballistic missile with a warhead that can be retargeted in-flight, giving China a means to attack US aircraft carriers more than 900 miles away.
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