Both leaders of their respective defense establishments in the US and China used much the same language during a press conference to describe their meeting in Beijing. From Chinese Minister of Defense Cao Gangchuan: “I think that our dialogue has been pragmatic, candid, and productive.” From American Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “The United States has a relationship with China that is candid, constructive, and cooperative. Washington has criticized Beijing for its lack of transparency about its military buildup. Gates said that he brought up a sore subject, that of the Chinese anti-satellite test. He said in response to a question, “I raised our concerns about it, and there was no further discussion.” That’s candid.
F-35 Deliveries Soared to New Record in 2025
Jan. 8, 2026
Lockheed Martin says it delivered 191 F-35 fighters in 2025—just ahead of the goal it set for itself at the beginning of the year as it works to clear a backlog of jets in storage.
