China Boosts Defense Spending by 15 Percent: China announced at its annual National People’s Congress this past weekend that it would raise military spending this year by 15 percent—to $35.1 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Remember last year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said that China actually spent twice what it publicly stated.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…