China refuted allegations that its J-20 stealth fighter jet had been constructed by gleaning technology from a downed US fighter.

The Global Times, a government mouthpiece, said in an article that the J-20 fighter, which China launched to much fanfare early this month, was designed and developed entirely by Chinese talent and that it was a result of technological innovation.

China's claim to fame over the much-hyped stealth fighter J-20's had come under shadow on Sunday as a Croatian admiral, who once served in the Kosovo War, told media that China gleaned technology from a F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter that was shot down over Serbia in 1999.

China's Ministry of National Defense brushed away the admiral's claim and vouched for the J-20. ... it's not the first time foreign media has smeared newly unveiled Chinese military technologies. It's meaningless to respond to such speculations, Global Times quoted a defense official as saying.

Earlier in the month China carried out a test flight of its advanced laser-evading stealth fighter J-20 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, perfectly timing the event to coincide with the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the country. The Chinese media had projected the J-20 as the Dragon's answer to the United States' F-22 Raptor.

The J-20 possesses an advanced supersonic cruise ability and powerful air mobility that are technological breakthroughs for the country, a seasoned pilot, Xu Yongling, told the Global Times.

According to Xu, the US F-117's stealth technology lagged far behind fourth-generation fighters, making it impossible for China to glean technology from it.

China China China