US Highlights Increased 'Coercive and Risky' Air Encounters with China Over Pacific
The Pentagon has reported a significant increase in "coercive and risky" encounters initiated by Chinese pilots against US aircraft over the East and South China Seas in the past two years. Ely Ratner, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, stated on Tuesday that these incidents have surpassed the total number observed in the preceding decade.
"Over 180 such incidents have been recorded since the fall of 2021," Ratner revealed.
In a move to highlight this trend, the Pentagon unveiled previously undisclosed photos and videos showcasing Chinese fighter jets intercepting US aircraft in international airspace. These visuals, dating back to January 2022, depict Chinese jets approaching US military aircraft at alarmingly close distances, sometimes as near as 20 feet, in what the Pentagon describes as attempts to "intimidate."
Ratner emphasized that these actions are part of a "centralized and concerted campaign" by China to force a change in the US's lawful operational activities.
One particularly concerning image from August 10 shows a Chinese jet nearing a US aircraft, forcing the latter to initiate "defense procedures." The Chinese plane approached within 50 feet before executing a "barrel-roll" beneath the US aircraft. The disclosed materials also show Chinese jets releasing various objects and projectiles, including flares.
Adm. John Aquilino, INDOPACOM commander, reiterated Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's stance, stating that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army "can and must stop this behavior."
Despite the Pentagon's attempts to address these concerns with Chinese military leadership, including engagements by Secretary Austin with General Wei Fenghe, China's then-Minister of National Defense, in 2021 and 2022, there has been a notable lack of response. The communication breakdown intensified after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last year, which angered Chinese officials.
Aquilino expressed his frustration on Tuesday, noting that his requests to communicate with his Chinese counterparts have been consistently denied for over two years.
This disclosure precedes the Pentagon's anticipated release of the 2023 "Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China," an annual assessment detailing China's expanding military capabilities and offering insights into its nuclear program.
