Chinese jets intercept U.S. radiation-sniffing plane, U.S. says

[webfact]

Chinese jets intercept U.S. radiation-sniffing plane, U.S. says

REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the U.S. military described on Thursday as an "unprofessional" intercept of a U.S. aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea.

 

"The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge.

 

Hodge said the U.S. characterization of the incident was based on initial reports from the U.S. aircrew aboard the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft."

 

"Distances always have a bearing on how we characterize interactions," Hodge said, adding a U.S. military investigation into the intercept was underway.

 

She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law.

 

China is deeply suspicious of any U.S. military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea.

 

On Feb. 8, a U.S. Navy P-3 spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came close to each other over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy saw as unsafe but also inadvertent.

 

Reuters reported at the time that the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland.

 

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-19

[mtls2005]

One source I read said one of the Chinese aircraft was flying above the -135, upside down at 45 m, a la Top Gun.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

China needs to be taught an early lesson regarding the South China Sea before they start intercepting international shipping and aircraft as routine measures in the mistaken belief that the while area belongs to them.  The island bases that they have built and equipped are there for a purpose.

 

In the same way that North Korea is gradually being allowed to threaten the world with nuclear missiles, China is step by step trying to take control of the South China Seas.  The international softly, softly approach to deal with these problems will only result in both North Korea and China achieving their objectives in the long run.   

[tonbridgebrit]

1 hour ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

China needs to be taught an early lesson regarding the South China Sea before they start intercepting international shipping and aircraft as routine measures in the mistaken belief that the while area belongs to them.  The island bases that they have built and equipped are there for a purpose.

 

In the same way that North Korea is gradually being allowed to threaten the world with nuclear missiles, China is step by step trying to take control of the South China Seas.  The international softly, softly approach to deal with these problems will only result in both North Korea and China achieving their objectives in the long run.   

Well, what should NATO do ???
Shoot down a few Chinese aeroplanes ?  Fire one or two mssiles at one of the Chinese islands ?
Put some taxes on the Chinese goods entering America and Europe ?
 

[timendres]

57 minutes ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Well, what should NATO do ???
Shoot down a few Chinese aeroplanes ?  Fire one or two mssiles at one of the Chinese islands ?
Put some taxes on the Chinese goods entering America and Europe ?
 

Put an order of magnitude more "routine missions in accordance with international law" in the region.

Sooner or later it will get sorted, one way or the other.

[IAMHERE]

I think the average American citizen doesn't want to pay for peace in the South China Sea. The USA is broke and doesn't need to borrow more money to make South China Sea safe for ships, especially when America has hardly any ships anymore.

[anon4546543]

4 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

I think the average American citizen doesn't want to pay for peace in the South China Sea. The USA is broke and doesn't need to borrow more money to make South China Sea safe for ships, especially when America has hardly any ships anymore.

I agree. China has already got control of the area.

In addition and almost a new precedent, China has been invited to attend the ASEAN annual meeting in the Philipines this year.

China says it wishes to address concerns of Asean member states who have claims in the South China Sea.

These nations include Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philipines. China states that it wants to make a pact with Asean concerning its islands grab.

This may possibly result in a treaty of some sort to divide up the spoils of this oil and marine rich area. 

[IMA_FARANG]

These planes are out of Offut airbase in Iowa,. as indicated  by the OF number on their tail

I have seen such planes before in Alaska, and in NATO   bases in Greece.

Their purpose then was to monitor Iranian sites.

Ttheir purpose is to sample the air over what may be an area where there is are  possible radiation products to determine whether there has been a nuclear explosion.

They are capable of using such air samples to determine the type and nature of such device for analysis.

Since China most likely will deny that such a thing as a nuclear explosion occurred in their territory the Chinese are not happy to have samples taken even in international areas that by international law are free for all aircraft to fly through.

That is precisely why such a plane was flying over the area.

 

Edited May 21, 2017 by IMA_FARANG
Added a comment

[hawker9000]

On 5/20/2017 at 1:56 PM, Retiredandhappyhere said:

China needs to be taught an early lesson regarding the South China Sea before they start intercepting international shipping and aircraft as routine measures in the mistaken belief that the while area belongs to them.  The island bases that they have built and equipped are there for a purpose.

 

In the same way that North Korea is gradually being allowed to threaten the world with nuclear missiles, China is step by step trying to take control of the South China Seas.  The international softly, softly approach to deal with these problems will only result in both North Korea and China achieving their objectives in the long run.   

Yeap.  The last administration did absolutely nothing about it, and now the outcome is pretty much unavoidable.  Step-by-step, inch-by-inch ....  very bad things ahead.  Along with N Korea's madness, 'history's next lesson in the consequences of appeasement and the over-indulgence of aggression.

Edited May 21, 2017 by hawker9000

[thaibeachlovers]

Erroneous headline.

From google intercept means

obstruct (someone or something) so as to prevent them from continuing to a destination.

I understand the US planes carried on with the mission.

[thaibeachlovers]

46 minutes ago, hawker9000 said:

Yeap.  The last administration did absolutely nothing about it, and now the outcome is pretty much unavoidable.  Step-by-step, inch-by-inch ....  very bad things ahead.  Along with N Korea's madness, 'history's next lesson in the consequences of appeasement and the over-indulgence of aggression.

Where is a leader like Kennedy when we need them?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/20/2017 at 8:43 PM, IAMHERE said:

I think the average American citizen doesn't want to pay for peace in the South China Sea. The USA is broke and doesn't need to borrow more money to make South China Sea safe for ships, especially when America has hardly any ships anymore.

If China stops American ships that would be fine by me as it would mean no more cheap Chinese junk heading for the US market.

[boomerangutang]

                                  How do we know it was 'radiation-sniffing'?  How can anyone believe what the WH or US military claim any more.   The Commander in Chief is a proven liar.  McMaster, and all the other brass who hang with Trump are proven liars.  Trump has single-handedly lowered the overall US's credibility quotient.    

[boomerangutang]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Where is a leader like Kennedy when we need them?

She lost the electoral vote.  

[boomerangutang]

15 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

These planes are out of Offut airbase in Iowa,. as indicated  by the OF number on their tail

I have seen such planes before in Alaska, and in NATO   bases in Greece.

Their purpose then was to monitor Iranian sites.  Their purpose is to sample the air over what may be an area where there is are  possible radiation products to determine whether there has been a nuclear explosion.   

They are capable of using such air samples to determine the type and nature of such device for analysis.  Since China most likely will deny that such a thing as a nuclear explosion occurred in their territory the Chinese are not happy to have samples taken even in international areas that by international law are free for all aircraft to fly through.   That is precisely why such a plane was flying over the area.

                  Your knowledge of such things is impressive.  But still, how can we trust any claim by the prez or US top brass, Pence, McMaster, Tillerson, or .....?   They all said the Carl Vinson was steaming toward Korean waters, when it wasn't.  They continued to put forth that lie for several days.  That was just one of a string of big lies.   

[anon4546543]

6 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

She lost the electoral vote.  

That was funny.

[thaibeachlovers]

35 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

She lost the electoral vote.  

Good grief.

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If China stops American ships that would be fine by me as it would mean no more cheap Chinese junk heading for the US market.

Or iphones or lots of high tech consumer products that depend on chinese manufacturers.  Wake up and join the 21st century.

[tonray]

On 5/20/2017 at 3:44 PM, tonbridgebrit said:

Well, what should NATO do ???
Shoot down a few Chinese aeroplanes ?  Fire one or two mssiles at one of the Chinese islands ?
Put some taxes on the Chinese goods entering America and Europe ?
 

Send a boatload of General Tso's chicken over.. That will confuse the heck out of them

[tonray]

10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If China stops American ships that would be fine by me as it would mean no more cheap Chinese junk heading for the US market.

The American economy would collapse without Chinese manufactured goods. Reality sucks. 

[anon4546543]

On 2017-5-22 at 7:43 AM, tonray said:

The American economy would collapse without Chinese manufactured goods. Reality sucks. 

Another reality is that not all Chinese goods are "cheap junk". They manufacture goods to a price. If you want to buy "cheap" then cheap is what you get. Pay more and get better quality.

 Also a lot of US goods and clothing is manufactured in China and other cheaper labour countries. And a lot of US goods are heading for the cheap junk label