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Now Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Friday said there had been signs of "a disconnect" between China's military and civilian leadership but stressed that President Hu Jintao is "in command and in charge".
When Gates met Hu and other top officials on Tuesday, Chinese state media published photos that were said to show the debut flight of the J-20, the country's first radar-evading combat aircraft.
The incident illustrated the Asian juggernaut's confidence and also raised questions about the role of its military, as a senior US defence official said Hu and other top civilians apparently were unaware of the test flight.
Gates, speaking in Tokyo on Friday, said "this is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of, I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership".
He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test".
But Gates also stressed: "I have no doubt about the fact that President Hu Jintao is in command and in charge."
US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China - The Times of India
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Friday said there had been signs of "a disconnect" between China's military and civilian leadership but stressed that President Hu Jintao is "in command and in charge".
When Gates met Hu and other top officials on Tuesday, Chinese state media published photos that were said to show the debut flight of the J-20, the country's first radar-evading combat aircraft.
The incident illustrated the Asian juggernaut's confidence and also raised questions about the role of its military, as a senior US defence official said Hu and other top civilians apparently were unaware of the test flight.
Gates, speaking in Tokyo on Friday, said "this is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of, I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership".
He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test".
But Gates also stressed: "I have no doubt about the fact that President Hu Jintao is in command and in charge."
US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China - The Times of India