The powerful weapons were unveiled for the first time as two Chinese air force advanced J-20 stealth fighters took part in a dramatic flypast during Airshow China 2018 near Shanghai. The warplanes opened their missile bay doors to reveal they were armed with four missiles in their fuselages plus one on either side of each aircraft. Aviation experts said the demonstration, which came on the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Air Force, was designed to show the J-20’s air superiority over the US Air Force’s F-22 and F-35 jets and also highlight its growing confidence.
Chinese military expert Song Zhongping said the four missiles in the J-20’s fuselage were long-range air-to-air missiles, while the two on the sides were short-range combat missiles meant for aerial combat.
The show of strength came after senior officials from both sides came face-to-face for high-level talks in Washington.
The meeting paired US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with Chinese Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe.
The annual US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue was originally set for Beijing last month but was postponed amid rising tensions.
The two sides discussed the bitter ongoing trade dispute, freedom of navigation in Asia-Pacific waters, self-ruled Taiwan and China’s crackdown on its Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
Mr Pompeo took aim at China over its continued building of military installations on artificial islands and reefs in the South China Sea, where China insists it has sovereignty despite competing claims from some smaller neighbours.
He said: “We have continued concerns about China’s activities and militarisation in the South China Sea.
“We pressed China to live up to its past commitments in this area.”
Mr Yang insisted China was committed to “non-confrontation” but said Beijing had the right to build “necessary defence facilities” on what it considers its own territory and urged Washington to stop sending warships and military planes close to the islands that Beijing claims.
Mr Mattis made clear that this demand go unheeded by Washington, which insists it is acting under international law to preserve access for it and others to the South China Sea.
The Chinese officials warned a trade war between the world’s two largest economies would end up hurting both sides and called for channels of communication to stay open to resolve an issue that has unsettled global financial markets.
Mr Pompeo said: “The United States is not pursuing a Cold War or containment policy with respect to China. Co-operation remains essential on many issues.”