[ad_1]
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) said above was the report of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Initiative (SCSPI, backed by the Chinese government) released on October 12.
Of the 60 aircraft, 41 flew over the East Sea, 6 flew over the East China Sea and further north, and 13 flew over the Yellow Sea. In addition, 13 aircraft have reached the Yellow Sea and three have reached the East China Sea while the Chinese military is on exercises. The actual number may be higher because some US aircraft are believed to be disguised as civilian aircraft or do not have transceivers.
The SCSPI report indicated that the US military’s aerial refueling activity increased last month. This suggests that Washington may be “preparing for long-range attacks on targets in the South China Sea.”
An RC-135S airplane of the United States Air Force. Photo: SCMP
Several supply planes departed from the US military base on the island of Guam in the western Pacific. According to SCSPI, it is unusual for the United States to send supply planes from Guam rather than from Kadena Air Base in Japan because such operations are ineffective and cheap. Its purpose appears to be to prepare for future long-distance refueling operations that deserve attention.
“The South China Sea remains the main focus of the United States. However, it is equally remarkable that its activities in the Yellow Sea have increased markedly compared to sporadic activities of two months ago.” – written report.
SCSPI also revealed in late September that a United States Air Force plane “changed its identification code when flying over the Yellow Sea to look like a Filipino plane” before reverting to its original number once completed. mission.
That same month, a US RC-135S was charged with “electronically disguising itself as a Malaysian civilian aircraft” while flying near Chinese airspace.
Researcher Ben Ho, from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore), commented: “The use of the base in Guam provides options for US military contingency, hinting at the much-talked-about possibility.: The bases Okinawa-Japan were shot down by Chinese missiles during the initial phase of the Sino-American conflict.
It also shows that Washington is protecting the possibility of Japan rejecting US forces stationed on its territory for deployment against China. In these two circumstances, the United States has no choice but to use bases in Guam. “
Pham Nghia (according to SCMP)
[ad_2]
