Records for the past two years… More than the cumulative number of times in the past 10 years
“Close to the fighter fuselage… “An accident could easily lead to war.”
The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) distributed more than 180 photos of Chinese planes that “dangerously” intercepted or disrupted the routes of U.S. fighter jets over the Pacific Ocean over the past two years at a press briefing on the 17th (local time). .
This is a very concerning number, more than the total number of similar incidents over the past 10 years, US military officials said.
The photos and videos released this time are designed to warn allies in the Indo-Pacific region that the Chinese military may pose a threat of force ahead of the Pentagon’s soon-to-be-announced report on China.
The Pentagon has been preparing for a potential battle with China over Taiwan for several years. The United States is now burdened with war support due to its allies Ukraine in Europe and Israel in the Middle East.
General John Aquilino, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said in a briefing today that although U.S. military transport planes and ships have been dispatched to support Israel and have been supporting the war in Ukraine for 20 months, the Indo-Pacific Command still has sufficient resources to keep China in check in the Pacific region. He emphasized that he has the capacity.
He explained that Chinese planes have been approaching US fighter jets very dangerously and aggressively, and at times have approached them so dangerously and destructively that it has caused extreme tension.
However, Commander Aquilino said that showing the reality of such a situation through video is intended to inform people that China’s threat is part of a new regional trend and that a war could break out accidentally.
Eli Ratner, Undersecretary for Indo-Pacific Affairs, also said, “All of the photos and videos of the cases released today are cases that occurred in joint international airspace.” She also said that most were cases where the approach was so risky and sudden that it could have unintentionally led to an accident or even a fight.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.