Chinese J-20 isn't just a fighter jet—it's a signal to US, Japan and India

The Print

02-07-2025

State media framed the alleged incident as a textbook display of the J-20's stealth advantage, combat readiness, and pilot skill. One pilot's phrase, ' fighting with bayonets in the air ,' was highlighted as a metaphor for China's fusion of traditional fighting spirit with high-tech modernity. It also underscored a broader theme that China acts decisively to defend its airspace and maritime claims. Reports tied the interception to new Chinese infrastructure projects in the East China Sea, suggesting these developments have unsettled Japan , but that China has the upper hand.
While the J-20 East China Sea encounter went largely unreported in English-language Chinese media and may have gone entirely unnoticed by Western outlets, it became a major topic on Chinese platforms like Baidu and Weibo. Hashtags such as '# J-20 pilot says we cannot back down ' and '# J-20 scrambles urgently to repel foreign military aircraft' garnered over 10 million and 47 million views, respectively.
The Chinese phrase, 'He who controls the heights, wins,' captures the strategic logic increasingly evident in Chinese discourse—airpower is seen as central to modern warfare. A recent China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast showed a close-range encounter over the East China Sea, where J-20 stealth fighters, codenamed 'Mighty Dragon', claimed to have intercepted foreign aircraft, likely F-35s, approaching China's established Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
'The J-20 is mighty—the pride of China's aviation industry and a shining star on the international stage,' read one comment. A Weibo post added: 'The J-20 has been fully upgraded—new domestic engines, enhanced avionics, improved tactics, and better training. We are confident and capable of facing future wars.' Another comment noted that the J-20's recent public appearance marked the maturation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's stealth fighter programme.
These sentiments reflect a recurring narrative in Chinese state and online media: military strength is both proof and driver of national resurgence. Following China's strong support for Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor, this narrative gained further momentum.
In Chinese discourse, the focus is less on tactical details and more on asserting regional air superiority and signalling strategic confidence. The message is clear, at least for the domestic audience: China is no longer playing catch-up; it is leading in its own theatre.
J-20: A game changer
In China's military narratives, the J-20 is not just an aircraft; it is a symbol of technological independence and strategic reach. It represents China's leap into fifth-generation fighter capabilities, combining stealth, speed, and long-range strike potential. Media coverage often features the J-20 conducting beyond-visual-range engagements under heavy electronic interference, showcasing agility and combat realism.
The replacement of Russian engines in Chinese aircraft with fully domestic ones is portrayed as a milestone in defence self-reliance. Reports indicate that China now produces J-20s at a rate that could surpass the regional presence of the US F-35. Testing of a two-seat variant, believed to support manned-unmanned teaming, signals ambitions aligned with sixth-generation airpower.
Chinese commentary highlights the J-20's ability to avoid radar detection until it is within 80 kilometres of enemy aircraft, creating what is described as a 'one-sided battlefield'. Its rapid combat readiness, airborne within eight minutes, is regularly cited, as are tactics like 'snake manoeuvres' and visible bomb bay deployments, which are said to deliver both tactical and psychological advantage. Support from electronic warfare aircraft like the J-16D adds to the portrayal of integrated, high-tech combat capability.
The pilot corps itself is central to the narrative. With an average age of just 28, J-20 pilots are depicted as the face of a new generation, technically skilled, highly trained, and ideologically committed. A user on Baidu described the J-20 as 'the pinnacle of China's aviation ambitions,' combining sleek design, advanced sensors, and networked combat systems. Yet perhaps more than the jet's features, Chinese discourse highlights production scale as a core metric of power. It's proof of China's growing industrial and military strength.
Wang Xiangsui, a professor at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, describes this as a doctrine of 'asymmetric air supremacy', not matching adversaries aircraft-for-aircraft, but offsetting their advantages through stealth, electronic warfare, and strategic agility. The J-20 is crucial to that doctrine.
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China's sky surveillance edge
The J-20 is part of a broader ecosystem of aerial dominance. Increasingly, Chinese narratives emphasise high-altitude drones, especially the Wuzhen-7 and Wuzhen-8, as critical for surveillance and deterrence. These unmanned systems are described as flying between 20,000 and 50,000 metres at speeds above Mach 7, far beyond the tracking range of Japanese F-15Js.
The Wuzhen-8, in particular, is praised for its stealth and AI-driven systems, with some Chinese analysts calling it a 'quasi-sixth-generation' platform. These drones are cast as vital ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets, capable of sustained operations across contested airspace. Their high speed and long endurance are seen as major advantages over regional rivals, reinforcing China's claims to both technological and strategic superiority.
What's the message?
The messaging in Chinese discourse is deliberate: Beijing is preparing for a confrontation and intends to do so from a position of strength. Fifth-generation fighters, AI-driven drones, and rapid mobilisation are not just military assets. They are woven into a larger story of national revival, technological ascendancy, and strategic inevitability.
The J-20 is not just a fighter jet—-it is a signal, aimed squarely at the US, Japan, India, and Taiwan. China aims to command the skies, and it is building both the arsenal and the narrative to make that clear. But first, it starts at home.
Sana Hashmi is a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. She tweets @sanahashmi1. Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)