Here's a Chinese Phantom story I whipped up nearly 10yrs ago:
"In 1973, the Chinese Ministry of Aeronautics (MoA) began the theoretical evaluation on a next-generation supersonic tactical bomber aircraft intended to replace both the H-5 (IL-28 Beagle) light bomber and the Q-5 (Fantan) attacker in the PLA service.
The development task was assigned to 603 Aircraft Design Institute based in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. A research team was set up in early 1974 and team members were sent to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Navy (PLAN) to discuss the requirements for the new bomber.
After studying the specifications submitted by the PLAAF and PLAN, the MoA and 603 Institute concluded that it was possible to develop a single airframe with different weapon and avionics configurations to fulfil the requirements of both services, thus saving the development expenses and time. In February 1977, the State Council and the Central Military Commission jointly authorised the new bomber development programme. The aircraft was initially designated Hong-7 (H-7) in line with the Chinese bomber designations.
However, like most defence projects in the early 1980s, the H-7 development was almost on frozen in 1980-1981 as the country’s economic development was given a higher priority. However, the PLA still desperately needed a replacement for its ageing H-5 bomber. Therefore, in 1982 the Chinese leadership directed that a simpler solution be put forward (preferably one based upon an existing, proven design).
With the United States of America and China experiencing what could best be described as a “honeymoon” in their relations, the possibility of China purchasing an American aircraft design was a distinct possibility (to help China modernise its forces against the Soviet Army, the U.S. had already offered its Sikorsky S-70C Black Hawk helicopter to the PLA). Initial speculation centred on a version of the F-16 or F/A-18, however, not wanting to repeat the debacle of Iran, the older F-4 Phantom II design was offered instead.
This was still a great step up in performance for the Chinese and more importantly was more in line with their manufacturing capabilities. Consequently, in late 1982 a deal was signed for the license production of 100 F-4 Phantoms by the Xi’an Aircraft Factory. In PLAAF/PLAN service, the aircraft was designated JianHong-8 (JH-8).
The JH-8 differed from the standard F-4 Phantom in being powered by the Chinese WS-9 turbofan. This was a license built Rolls Royce Spey and had already been selected as the power plant for the H-7. In this respect, the JH-8 is closer to the British FGR.1/2 Phantoms.
In 1982 work had also began to replace the unimpressive J-8 (Finback-A) type with a new design known as the J-8II. With the JH-8 deal already on the table, it was also decided to investigate a pure fighter version. Consequently, in 1983 it was decided to expand the terms of the license production agreement to include a further 160 fighter versions of the JH-8 as the J-8II.
JH-8s and J-8IIs serve with numerous PLAAF/PLAN units, but perhaps the most interesting are those operating from the PLAN’s only aircraft carrier, the “Zheng He”. This carries a total of 40 such aircraft operating in a mixed fleet."