Quote: My only consolation is that much of the technology they are buying is probably obsolete against us.
Not true by many of the military techies on this site. China bought 240 of th SU-30 fighter planes from Russia. One of the most advanced fighters in the world and is better than the F-15 or F-16.
China is behind us right no but what about 10 years from now? The EU also wants to lift the arms embargo against china this summer so they will be able to buy the very latest EU hardware...which is used by Nato and US.
Look what hitler did in 7 short years from '33 to '40; He was hampered by a Germany that was in a depression and was hindered by the league of nations and was supposedly limited by what he could build. Remember the "pocket battleships' that circumvented the law??
Look at china, unfettered for the most part by world law and a unlimited supply of money (for the most part)
I think they are very foolish if they are setting up for war. However, I agree, we can't take anything for granted. By the way, I thought The F/A 18 was considered an "aging" aircraft ? Don't we have any new technology in the works ?