Defeat, Not Merely Compete: China’s View of Its Military Aerospace Goals and Requirements in Relation to the United States

Aerospace power has been a core feature of the People’s Liberation Army’s rapid modernization. This report examines how competition with the U.S. Air Force shapes Chinese thinking about developing this power. It also examines how China selects between copying foreign powers and innovating its own solutions, as well as the arenas of aerospace in which China chooses to compete.