ZHUHAI: China’s new stealth jet fighter rocketed skywards yesterday as Beijing puts on an unprecedented display of openness—and military force — at the country’s premier air show. The black J-31 rose in a nearly vertical climb on take-off in Zhuhai before circling back and doing two rolls, in the aircraft’s first announced public appearance. The plane’s existence has been the subject of rumour and speculation for years, with photographs appearing increasingly frequently on military websites in recent months. Defence analysts say the J-31 is China’s answer to the United States’ F-35, though the Chinese jet lags behind the American one technologically. The fighter’s Chinese name is “Falcon Eagle” and it is manufactured by a unit of Aviation Industry Corp of China, whose defence arm uses the slogan: “We are making the best weapons for guardians of the peace.” The plane’s debut comes amid tensions between China and its neighbours over territorial disputes, particularly Japan which has feuded with Beijing over a group of islands in the East China Sea.
Convicted ferry crew file for appeal
SEOUL: Eight of the 15 surviving crew members of a South Korean ferry that capsized in April have filed for appeal against their convictions on negligence charges in the country’s worst maritime disaster in more than four decades. The eight crew members, who had been given prison sentences ranging from five to 30 years, filed appeal papers yesterday, according to court records. Video footage of the crew escaping the sharply listing vessel after telling the passengers to stay inside has sparked nationwide grief and anger. The families of the victims, many of whom were school children, have demanded harsh penalties. The captain was sentenced to 36 years in jail on Tuesday but acquitted of homicide for which prosecutors had sought the death penalty. He was not among the eight who filed for appeal.
HK protest leaders to fly to Beijing
HONG KONG: Hong Kong democracy protest leaders said they will head to Beijing on Saturday in hopes of bringing their demands for political reform to the Chinese authorities, but there are worries they will not be allowed into the country. Protestors, spearheaded by the Hong Kong Federation of Students, have blocked key Hong Kong intersections for more than a month to press their demands for fully free elections for the city’s next leader. Fruitless talks with the Hong Kong government almost a month ago have led to an impasse and protest leaders plan to travel to Beijing to bypass the unpopular local administration altogether. “The federation is going to Beijing as a last resort and is not challenging Beijing’s authority and to harm the one country, two systems,” it said.
Agencies
