According to several news reports, Gen. Jing Zhiyuan, commander of the Second Artillery and the chief of China’s nuclear missile forces, told Rumsfeld that China would never be the first one to push the nuclear button. A recap of the statement came from US defense officials who were with Rumsfeld at the SRF facility. They believe Jing’s comments were a form of damage control after Gen. Zhu Chenghu’s comment in July to reporters in Hong Kong that China would strike with nuclear weapons if threatened in a conflict over Taiwan.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
