(3) So far, VOA Chinese reports the first test-flight of J-20 in two ways.
(a) Pres. Hu Jintao confirmed the test flight to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, ONLY AFTER he checked out Gates' statement.
(b) 中国媒体报道隐形战斗机首次试飞. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110111-CHINA-STEALTH-FIGHTER-113260829.html
My comment: The nuance of (3)(b) is that is what China media say, rather than independently verified by US sources (satellite or intelligence).
(4) 对台军售：盖茨，梁光烈各唱各的调. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110111-GATES-CHINA-TAIWAN-ARMS-SALES-113295564.html
My comment:
(a) I did not know this until I read this report. Otherwise there is no need to read this report.
(b) MGM-140 ATACMS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM-140_ATACMS
(The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) is a surface-to-surface missile (SSM), range over 100 miles, with solid propellant, 13 feet height and 24 inches diameter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin; On 20 December 2010, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for $916 million for 226 ‘tactical missiles’ and 24 launcher modification kits for the UAE and Taiwan)
So these two nations are so far the only FOREIGN buyers.
(c) I had no idea what the missile was. When I read the report, I thought the Secretary was talking about 非地对地. Now that it is, I guess his emphasis must be 战术 (strategic; as opposed to tactical).
(5) 简讯：塔吉克斯坦割让一些有争议的土地给中国. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110112-TAJIKISTAN-113370839.html
(6) 盖茨访问北京战略核导弹司令部. BBC Chinese, Jan 12, 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2011/01/110112_us_china.shtml
("在2009年10至11月中国军方官员访美之际，美国方面曾允许中国官员参观统辖核武器运用的美战略军司令部。'二炮'司令部很少有外国领导人到访，此次盖茨之行可谓'礼尚往来'")
My comment: There is no need to read the rest. For 美战略军司令部, see
United States Strategic Command
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Strategic_Command
(USSTRATCOM; is one of the ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Department of Defense (DoD); established in 1992; charged with United States nuclear arsenal, among other things; headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska)
(3) So far, VOA Chinese reports the first test-flight of J-20 in two ways.
(a) Pres. Hu Jintao confirmed the test flight to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, ONLY AFTER he checked out Gates' statement.
(b) 中国媒体报道隐形战斗机首次试飞. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110111-CHINA-STEALTH-FIGHTER-113260829.html
My comment: The nuance of (3)(b) is that is what China media say, rather than independently verified by US sources (satellite or intelligence).
(4) 对台军售：盖茨，梁光烈各唱各的调. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110111-GATES-CHINA-TAIWAN-ARMS-SALES-113295564.html
My comment:
(a) I did not know this until I read this report. Otherwise there is no need to read this report.
(b) MGM-140 ATACMS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM-140_ATACMS
(The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) is a surface-to-surface missile (SSM), range over 100 miles, with solid propellant, 13 feet height and 24 inches diameter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin; On 20 December 2010, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for $916 million for 226 ‘tactical missiles’ and 24 launcher modification kits for the UAE and Taiwan)
So these two nations are so far the only FOREIGN buyers.
(c) I had no idea what the missile was. When I read the report, I thought the Secretary was talking about 非地对地. Now that it is, I guess his emphasis must be 战术 (strategic; as opposed to tactical).
(5) 简讯：塔吉克斯坦割让一些有争议的土地给中国. VOA Chinese, Jan 11, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110112-TAJIKISTAN-113370839.html
(6) 盖茨访问北京战略核导弹司令部. BBC Chinese, Jan 12, 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2011/01/110112_us_china.shtml
("在2009年10至11月中国军方官员访美之际，美国方面曾允许中国官员参观统辖核武器运用的美战略军司令部。'二炮'司令部很少有外国领导人到访，此次盖茨之行可谓'礼尚往来'")
My comment: There is no need to read the rest. For 美战略军司令部, see
United States Strategic Command
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Strategic_Command
(USSTRATCOM; is one of the ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Department of Defense (DoD); established in 1992; charged with United States nuclear arsenal, among other things; headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska)