China urges US to stop ‘unfriendly’ recon flights

China yesterday called on the United States to stop “unfriendly” and “dangerous” military flights after two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American surveillance plane over the East China Sea, reports AFP from Beijing.

The US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft took evasive action Sunday after a Chinese J-10 warplane zoomed underneath it, slowed down and pulled up in front of it, the Pentagon said earlier.

China’s defence ministry said the action of its pilots was “legal, necessary and professional”.

“The US military aircraft coming near China’s border and carrying out reconnaissance has threatened China’s national security, damaged Sino-US military air and sea safety, endangered the personal safety of both pilots,” it said in a statement.

“The US side should immediately stop such unsafe, unprofessional and unfriendly dangerous military activities and take practical measures to add positive energy to the development of Sino-US military relations.”

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the incident, which occurred west of the Korean peninsula, was an “uncharacteristic” example of unsafe behaviour by the Chinese military.

“There are intercepts that occur in international air space regularly, and the vast majority of them are conducted in a safe manner,” he said.

In April 2001 a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US Navy EP-3 spy plane around 110 kilometres (70 miles) off Hainan Island over the South China Sea.

 

China urges US to stop unfriendly recon flights

China yesterday called on the United States to stop unfriendly and dangerous military flights after two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American surveillance plane over the East China Sea, reports AFP from Beijing. The US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft took evasive action Sunday after a Chinese J-10 warplane zoomed underneath it, slowed down and pulled up in front of it, the Pentagon said earlier. Chinas defence ministry said the action of its pilots was legal, necessary and professional. The US military aircraft coming near Chinas border and carrying out reconnaissance has threatened Chinas national security, damaged Sino-US military air and sea safety, endangered the personal safety of both pilots, it said in a statement. The US side should immediately stop such unsafe, unprofessional and unfriendly dangerous military activities and take practical measures to add positive energy to the development of Sino-US military relations. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the incident, which occurred west of the Korean peninsula, was an uncharacteristic example of unsafe behaviour by the Chinese military. There are intercepts that occur in international air space regularly, and the vast majority of them are conducted in a safe manner, he said. In April 2001 a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US Navy EP-3 spy plane around 110 kilometres (70 miles) off Hainan Island over the South China Sea.