With China and Russia preparing to hold joint military maneuvers later this year, a top Russian military officer mentioned the possibility of selling strategic supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers, known by NATO as "Backfire," to China.
"If they've got enough money, they should buy some" of Russia's latest aircraft, Russian Air Force commander Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov said, referring to the Chinese.
In the past, Russia has refused to sell the bombers to China on the grounds that they are "too powerful." Mikhailov's statement suggested a change in Russia's position, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said.
Were China to acquire the Tu-22M3, armed with the latest Russian Granit cruise missiles, the bombers would be able to "threaten the Americans" in any future dispute involving Taiwan, the news agency quoted military experts as saying.
A Chinese purchase of two Tu-22M3 regiments - or up to 40 aircraft - would be enough to guarantee the destruction of a U.S. carrier group, the agency commented.
Russian military expert Mikhail Barabanov said the only long-range bomber China currently has in its arsenal is the subsonic Tu-16.
The Soviet Union sold a license for its production to China in the late 1950s, but the aircraft became obsolete long ago and poses no threat to Taiwan.
In recent years, China has been a top buyer of Russian military hardware, accounting for nearly half of Russia's arms exports. Beijing has bought Russian anti-aircraft systems, destroyers, and submarines.
Russia and China have been proposing a "strategic partnership" intended to counter U.S. domination in global affairs.
President Vladimir Putin's latest visit to China, in October, served to boost bilateral ties. During the visit, the neighbors also signed an agreement on their long, joint border, bringing to an end a decades-long dispute.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has vowed to use force if necessary to prevent any formal declaration of independence by the self-governing island. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has pledged to help Taiwan to defend itself.
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