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'Obvious provocation': China accuses US spy plane of entering no-fly zone 'Obvious provocation': China accuses US spy plane of entering no-fly zone
(32 minutes later)
State media report that ‘solemn representations’ have been made to the US regarding overflight in northern ChinaState media report that ‘solemn representations’ have been made to the US regarding overflight in northern China
China has said a US spy plane entered a no-fly zone used by the Chinese military for live-fire drills, with state media branding it an act of provocation. China has lodged “stern representations” with the United States, accusing it of sending a U-2 reconnaissance plane into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills, further ratcheting up tensions between Beijing and Washington.
The U-2 reconnaissance jet’s flight over an area in northern China violated safety rules between the two nations, Xinhua reported on Tuesday, citing the Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian. China has long denounced US surveillance activities, while the United States has complained of “unsafe” intercepts by Chinese aircraft. While such missions happen regularly, it is unusual for China to talk about them publicly.
“The US action could easily have resulted in misjudgments and even accidents,” the report said, adding “the move was an obvious provocation”. China’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that the U-2 flew without permission over a no-fly zone in the northern military region where live fire drills were taking place, “seriously interfering in normal exercise activities”.
“China firmly opposes such provocative actions and has lodged solemn representations with the US side.” This could easily have caused a misunderstanding or misjudgment or an “unexpected incident”, the ministry added.
Beijing’s anger comes as US and Chinese relations have deteriorated to historic lows, with confrontations simmering on trade, military and political matters. “It was an act of naked provocation, and China is resolutely opposed to it, and have already lodged stern representations with the US side.”
On the military front US naval forces regularly conduct operations near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, in effect challenging China’s territorial claims. While it did not say exactly where the incident took place, China is currently carrying out drills in the Bohai Sea. Other exercises are also happening in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea.
The ministry added that the US move ran counter to China-US rules on behaviour at sea and in the air and international norms.
“China demands the US side immediately stop this kind of provocative behaviour and take actual steps to safeguard peace and stability in the region.”
Relations between Washington and Beijing have worsened over everything from trade and human rights to what the United States sees as aggressive moves by China’s armed forces, especially in the disputed South China Sea and around Chinese-claimed Taiwan.
In April 2001, an intercept of a US spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.
The 24 US air crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologised for the incident.