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China Denies Confrontation With U.S. Surveillance Plane China Denies Confrontation With U.S. Surveillance Plane
(2 days later)
HONG KONG — The Chinese government rejected the Pentagon’s claim that a People’s Liberation Army fighter jet had buzzed dangerously close to an American surveillance plane in international airspace, and it warned that frequent surveillance flights were risking an accident near the Chinese coast. HONG KONG — The Chinese government rejected the Pentagon’s claim that a People’s Liberation Army fighter jet had buzzed dangerously close to an American surveillance plane in international airspace, and it warned that frequent surveillance flights were risking an accident near the Chinese coast.
The statement came on Saturday in response to a Pentagon spokesman’s complaint about the air encounter, which took place Tuesday.The statement came on Saturday in response to a Pentagon spokesman’s complaint about the air encounter, which took place Tuesday.
The Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, had said on Friday that the Chinese jet approached a United States Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, flying alongside with the planes’ wingtips less than 30 feet apart, and then performed a roll maneuver so that the American pilot could see the Chinese jet’s weapons.The Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, had said on Friday that the Chinese jet approached a United States Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, flying alongside with the planes’ wingtips less than 30 feet apart, and then performed a roll maneuver so that the American pilot could see the Chinese jet’s weapons.
The encounter was “very, very close, very dangerous,” Admiral Kirby said.The encounter was “very, very close, very dangerous,” Admiral Kirby said.
But the Chinese military bluntly rejected the accusations of risky brinkmanship on Saturday. “The Chinese pilot’s maneuvers were professional, and maintained a safe distance from the U.S. aircraft,” a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, Col. Yang Yujun, said in a statement on the ministry’s website.But the Chinese military bluntly rejected the accusations of risky brinkmanship on Saturday. “The Chinese pilot’s maneuvers were professional, and maintained a safe distance from the U.S. aircraft,” a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, Col. Yang Yujun, said in a statement on the ministry’s website.
“The U.S. accusations against China are totally unfounded,” Colonel Yang said in the statement. “It is large-scale, high-frequency close-proximity surveillance by the United States that endangers Chinese-U.S. maritime and aviation safety, and that is the root cause behind any accidents.”“The U.S. accusations against China are totally unfounded,” Colonel Yang said in the statement. “It is large-scale, high-frequency close-proximity surveillance by the United States that endangers Chinese-U.S. maritime and aviation safety, and that is the root cause behind any accidents.”
According to the Chinese defense ministry, the Chinese naval fighter flew up to identify two American planes — the P-8 Poseidon and a P-3 Orion — that were carrying out surveillance over the South China Sea about 137 miles east of Hainan Island.According to the Chinese defense ministry, the Chinese naval fighter flew up to identify two American planes — the P-8 Poseidon and a P-3 Orion — that were carrying out surveillance over the South China Sea about 137 miles east of Hainan Island.
The episode brought echoes of April 2001, when a Chinese fighter jet collided with a United States Navy spy plane near Hainan.The episode brought echoes of April 2001, when a Chinese fighter jet collided with a United States Navy spy plane near Hainan.
The Chinese pilot died when his plane plunged into the sea, and the American plane made an emergency landing on the island, where the crew was detained for more than a week.The Chinese pilot died when his plane plunged into the sea, and the American plane made an emergency landing on the island, where the crew was detained for more than a week.
China said the United States was to blame.China said the United States was to blame.