Chinese Checkers

A Russsian paper has reported that China will export 24 J-10A fighters to Iran beginning in 2008. The J-10 is an air superiority fighter with capabilities and performance that resemble closer to those of F-15 and F-16 aircraft.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied reports of the sale, calling them "irresponsible."

Considering China's miltary agenda however, the sale does not seem out of the question. Their goal seems to be stepping up threats to the US from Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

Just last week, the chief of the US naval operations expressed concern about competition from China's ship building sector.

"The fact that our shipbuilding capacity and industry is not as competitive as other builders around the world is cause for concern," Admiral Gary Roughead told the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.

Regarding China, he said: "They are very competitive on the world market. There is no question that their ship building capability is increasing rapidly."

China is turning out 5,000 commercial ships a year, against 300 by the United States, and an average of three submarines a year, to the United States' one.

China is also producing nearly five times as much steel as the United States.

We are losing our superiority and our government seems not to care.