"Our planes are much older than the planes they would
be matched against. For the first time in history, we are seeing
another nation, in this case China, with newer fighters than we
have. We know that they continue to invest at a level that is
unprecedented. We need to be watchful of Chinese military
capabilities."
Source: USAF Lt. General Bruce Wright, who
commands about 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan, on the state of
readiness of the US Air Force versus the burgeoning Chinese armed
forces. Wright says the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are putting a
heavy drain on manpower and equipment needed to meet
"contingencies" in East Asia.