Yes – they’re both sovereign, independent states. That’s why Taiwanese passports have recognition the world over and are treated differently from Chinese ones.

The fact a majority of countries don’t have formal ties with Taiwan has nothing to do with whether Taiwan is an independent state or not. It used to be the other way around, but I don’t think anyone here would be dumb enough to say that China wasn’t a sovereign independent country from 1950 for a number of decades.

Whether weapons/technology are sold or not is down to other issues. China itself is limited in terms of who it can buy from or what it can buy. Does that mean its sovereignty is limited?

My most sincere apologies, if I offended you………..

I am not talking about whether Taiwan is an independent state or has right to be or any sort of moralities….etc, etc…

I’ll rephrase that…original post also edited…..

….from what I know doesn’t Russia have “One China” policy? Taiwan is considered a part of PRC by the Russian Govt? If so, then does the same logic apply by saying” If Russia sells weapons to both India & PRC then why not PRC & RoC”?

From : The Central News Agency

http://english.cna.com.tw/ReadNews/Detail.aspx?pSearchDate=&pNewsID=200906190031&pType1=PD&pType0=xPDCS&pTypeSel=0

Military evaluating third generation of fighter aircraft
2009/06/19 23:17:14
Taipei, June 19 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is still working on plans to acquire a new generation of military aircraft, an official said Friday.

Military spokesman Yu Sy-tue was responding to a newspaper report that the state-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (ADIC) has designed a new generation of jet fighters that cater to the military’s special needs.

According to the China Times report, the ADIC has completed the design of the new military aircraft with assistance from Russian experts in the field.

In the process, the Taipei-based daily said, the ADIC had sent people to Russia to consult with Russian strategists and engineers on the design of the new fighter.

The paper further said the ADIC-designed jet fighters will be equipped with twin engines and will be capable of taking off and landing over short distances.

Commenting on the report, Yu said the military is planning the acquisition of a new generation of jet fighters.

“The military will take into account the changing international strategic environment, enemy threat, government finances, development trends in jet fighters and the possibility of acquiring them while working on new aircraft acquisition plans,” Yu explained.

He would not divulge details, however, on the military’s acquisition and reasearch plans.

Instead, Yu said, jet fighters with short take-off and landing requirements, stealth qualities and beyond-vision combat functions are all features that meet the military’s future combat requirements.

Meanwhile, ADIC spokesman Lee Shih-chang said the company has never sent any R&D staff to Russia, in an indirect denial of the newspaper report.

(By Sofia Wu) enditem/ls

PS:

So it seems, 2nd Gen = IDF, M2K, F-16, 3rd Gen would be 5th gen as we know it. No surprises that Taiwan is looking into/developing a 5th gen plane.

I’ll wait for some official words….

PS:

3rd gen? Well 3rd gen in PRC usually translates to 4th gen as we know it. J-10/J-11 = 3rd gen J-XX = 4th gen and so on….

Posted by xinhui @ CDF

J-7G2:

J-10B:

I know that this is probably not public information, but does anyone know when, if not already, this upgraded J-10 is to be productionised?

Well the maiden flight of “01 prototype” was in December 2008. So should take sometime. For the J-10A, 1st prototype flew in 1998. 1st PLAAF regiment in 2004.

Will the J-10A be upgraded to this standard, if indeed it is possible to do so?

hmmm….maybe certain avionics but other than that,… I strongly doubt it.. remember J-10B has some major surgery at the intake and who knows what other structural changes have been made.

And due to the release of such photo’s, it does surely indicate that their design teams are already earnestly busy with the next generation of fighter, and not just in the early concept phases anymore. If so, it may even come quite close to the Pak-fa in time scale, if nothing else?

PAK-FA is supposed to fly late this year. The J-XX will probably take alot longer than that, especially when it comes to the engine. Check Hui Tong’s site. Scroll right the to the J-14 section

What’s on the inboard pylons? Are they EW pods?

Well so far nobody outside knows the exact answer to that….. But it is believed to be EW pods…

Initially some of us thought whether it might be a strengthened pylon to carry heavier air-to-surface/anti-ship missiles….

Posted by : gordonblade & =GT @ CDF

Best shot of the KJ-2000

PS:

For those who missed the boat, J-10B image collection

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/Hyperwarp/Hobbies/Military/PRC/Air/J-10B/