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China to purchase
fighters, subs from Russia: state media
SPENDING SPREE: Earlier this month Beijing
announced a double-digit rise in its defense budget, to 720.2 billion yuan
(US$116 billion) this year
AFP, BEIJING
China has agreed to buy 24 fighter jets and four submarines from Russia, state
media reported yesterday, the country¡¦s first large-scale weapons technology
purchases from Moscow in a decade.
The agreement to buy the Sukhoi Su-35 fighters and four Lada-class submarines
was signed just before Chinese President Xi Jinping¡¦s (²ßªñ¥) weekend visit to
Russia, said the People¡¦s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party organ, citing state
television.
The report, which did not give a value for the purchases, said it was the first
time in 10 years that China had bought ¡§large military technological equipment¡¨
from Russia.
The deal comes as Beijing expands its military reach ¡X it commissioned its first
aircraft carrier last year ¡X and is embroiled in a bitter territorial row with
Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Two of the submarines will be built in Russia, with the other two to be built in
China.
¡§The Su-35 fighters can effectively reduce pressure on China¡¦s air defense
before Chinese-made stealth fighters come online,¡¨ the report said.
China and Russia are expected to cooperate further in developing military
technology, the report said, including that for S-400 long-range anti-aircraft
missiles, 117S large thrust engines, IL-476 large transport aircraft and IL-78
aerial tankers.
China¡¦s defense ministry had no immediate comment on the report.
Xi visited Moscow from Friday to Sunday for talks with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, his first trip abroad since becoming head of state earlier this
month.
The countries signed around 30 energy and other agreements during the visit.
Xi also met Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and became the first foreign
leader to visit the Russian armed forces¡¦ control center.
Moscow and Beijing, which were once bitter foes during the Cold War, have
strengthened cooperation in recent years to counterbalance what they see as US
global dominance.
Earlier this month China announced a further double-digit rise in its defense
budget, increasing it by 10.7 percent to 720.2 billion yuan (US$116 billion)
this year.
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