As the US mobilises air and naval power near Iranian waters, a symbolic gesture by China  to Tehran is grabbing eyeballs. A Chinese official’s gesture of presenting a model of the  twin-engine stealth fighter J-20 to an Iranian senior Air Force commander is now being interpreted as a new chapter in the defence engagement between the two countries.The event happened in Tehran on February 8 during the Iranian Air Force Day celebration. The Chinese military attache presented a mock-up of the J-20 to Brigadier General Bahman Behmard. The otherwise simple diplomatic formality has achieved a new meaning in the wake…