Its certainly not the first Boeing the Chinese military have as in 2000 the Chinese air force purchased 10 Boeing 737-300's (currently being used as military transports)through China United Airlines. China United Airlines (CUA) is China's version of Air America. Boeing or Airbus I don't really care, any Western aircraft is better than some of the clangers flying around Chinese airspace.
KIFIS - Suggest you read the P3 pilot's transcripts ref the Hainan Is incident before passing judgment there, touchy subject for many people. Also you can't blame the Chinese for wanting to buy the Boeing as it was indirectly a great compliment for the US (no I'm not a US citizen), entrusting the safety of the countries leaders to US technology. And seriously you have to ask yourself even if sometimes the US can do some pretty Dilbert things (i.e was that meters or was that feet, oops send another mars lander...) they are pretty s..t hot when it comes to techo stuff and wouldn't have bungled the job as bad as that. On the other hand I work daily side by side with some of China's "finest" technicians and believe me that handiwork on the 767 reminds me of what I see over here sometimes.
Bottom line? you seem to be baiting folk with your thread(s) and people are rising to the fly as well by the look of it.
Food for thought did you know that all of the plastic Xmas trees that grace the halls of the Whitehouse are made in China about 30kms from Hong Kong? wonder if they hum when they are turned on.......
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