ABRAHAM ABRAMS is an expert in East Asian military affairs and security. He holds a masters degree in War Studies from King's College London as well as a Masters in East Asian International Relations, and is currently pursuing a related PhD. Having followed the J-20 program's development closely since before its entry into service, the writer is a long-time analyst of China's defense sector and major weapons programs as well as broader trends in international security affecting China and its neighbors. His assessment of the fighter program thus places it in historical and geopolitical contexts to provide a fuller understanding of its significance.