Beijing: Hours before former President A P J Abdul Kalam was to visit China's top aviation body, he was told of a change in plans. He would visit the China Academy of Space Technology instead.
The last-minute change has sparked off speculation whether the cancellation was connected to China's wariness over its new stealth fighter, the J-31, launched just ahead of Kalam's visit.
Kalam, 82, an acclaimed aviation engineer, came on his first-ever visit to China on November 1, when pictures of the stealth fighter on its 11-minute flight test were flashed. Chinese officials said it was an improvised and lighter version of the J-20, launched about two years ago.
This made China the second country after the US to acquire the stealth bomber.
05/11/12 PTI/Times of India
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The last-minute change has sparked off speculation whether the cancellation was connected to China's wariness over its new stealth fighter, the J-31, launched just ahead of Kalam's visit.
Kalam, 82, an acclaimed aviation engineer, came on his first-ever visit to China on November 1, when pictures of the stealth fighter on its 11-minute flight test were flashed. Chinese officials said it was an improvised and lighter version of the J-20, launched about two years ago.
This made China the second country after the US to acquire the stealth bomber.
05/11/12 PTI/Times of India
