BEIJING — South Korea’s program to indigenously develop a stealth fighter is facing severe political obstacles, with the finance ministry seeking to delay development and an influential think tank casting doubt on the project’s viability. In addition, a key program opponent may become defense minister in the next presidential term, which will begin in February.

BEIJING — A second Chinese stealth fighter, apparently from Avic’s Shenyang plant, has appeared in seemingly genuine pictures that cropped up on Chinese web sites Sept. 15. The twin-engine, single-seat fighter, shown at an airfield, appears to approximate the Lockheed Martin F-35 in size, with a somewhat shallower body but a similar span of about 11.4 meters (37.5 ft.), as indicated by comparison with a commercial aircraft tug shown pulling it.

China’s HNA Group is outlining ambitious plans to expand its Hongkong Jet business aircraft management operations to fill what its sees as a void in service and quality in the emerging Chinese market. China’s business aircraft management companies have begun to proliferate, thanks to easier regulation and a growing awareness among the country’s wealthy and big companies that private jets are attainable and useful. But service quality has not matched that of Western standards with a number of carriers.