According to Observer website , the US military released a video of a US military RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft being intercepted by the People's Liberation Army J-11 fighter jets while operating in the South China Sea, and once again slandered the close interception of Chinese fighter jets as it could lead to accidents or misjudgments and was an "unsafe" activity.
China refuted this, saying that the United States' long-term provocative behavior in the South China Sea has seriously threatened China's national security, and this is the root cause of the threat to maritime security. China also warned the United States to stop such behavior as soon as possible and not to criticize others and underestimate China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and security.
From the information released by the United States, we can see the specific circumstances of the contact between fighter jets from both sides. The People's Liberation Army's J-11 fighter plane carried two PL-12 missiles and two PL-8 missiles under its wings. It approached the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft from the left and moved forward from about 3 meters away from its wings to about 6 meters away from its nose. According to the US, in response to this action by the PLA fighter plane, the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft was "forced to take evasive actions to avoid a collision." This is also the basis for the US to call the activities of PLA fighter jets "unsafe".
Obviously, the United States used the "evil ones complain first" strategy that it is very good at in the notification. The United States vigorously emphasized that the PLA fighter jets would intercept it. The US Indo-Pacific Command and the US Department of Defense successively appeared in public, but they did not clearly explain why their reconnaissance aircraft would trigger this reaction from the PLA fighter jets. This is like a person who failed to steal something from someone else's house and was kicked out by the owner. Before the owner could report the theft, he lay down on the ground to blackmail the owner and scared him. In a common sense, this would be called "rogue behavior."
This move by the United States is also a "rogue act." Why not explain the cause and effect? Because once everything is explained clearly, the United States will no longer be unreasonable. As we all know, the islands in the South China Sea have always been China's inherent territory, and the 12 nautical miles surrounding these islands are China's territorial waters. However, the United States has repeatedly used "freedom of navigation" as an excuse to ignore the constraints of international law and challenge the People's Liberation Army's determination to defend the territorial sovereignty and security of the motherland.
Once this truth is explained clearly, it will naturally be clear who poses a threat to security over the South China Sea and who violates international law and brings military pressure to other countries. This is not the first time the United States has taken advantage of the situation. In June this year, US Defense Secretary Austin, in August this year, in August this year, in August this year, in August this year, in August this year, in the dialogue between China and the US defense ministers, the United States mentioned concerns about "unsafe interactions." But the United States has never reflected on who is responsible for the increased frequency of interactions between the two sides.
The intention of the United States and its little brothers to frequently cause trouble in the South China Sea is very obvious, which is to cause trouble by displaying its military presence in the South China Sea.
On the one hand, it is to detect the specific movements of the People's Liberation Army in the South China Sea and accumulate investigation data. Some military experts said that judging from the frequently dispatched P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, EP-3 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, Global Hawk UAVs, E-2 early warning aircraft and E-3 early warning aircraft, the US military's reconnaissance of the People's Liberation Army in the South China Sea is comprehensive, covering nuclear submarines, radar signals, communication signals, South China Sea islands and reefs, fighter training, etc.
On the other hand, this action is to show to the Philippines and other countries surrounding the South China Sea that the United States is still capable of intervening in the situation in the South China Sea, instigating these countries to create disputes in the South China Sea, and using the tense situation to contain the People's Liberation Army and ease the pressure on the Taiwan Strait and the first island chain . In particular, choosing to hype up the news that the People's Liberation Army fighter jets intercepted a US reconnaissance plane at the time when the new Philippine President Marcos announced his visit to China in January 2023 has completely exposed the sinister intentions of the United States to sow discord.
Of course, the People's Liberation Army is strong enough to deal with these little thoughts of the United States. The United States and its little brothers keep causing trouble in the South China Sea. Not only do they provide the People's Liberation Army with rare opportunities to practice their skills, they also shoot themselves in the foot and make jokes frequently.
First, the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson traveled thousands of miles to the South China Sea to conduct military exercises. As a result, the F-35C fighter jet it carried crashed into the sea and had to return to Hong Kong in despair. Then, Canadian and Australian reconnaissance aircraft also sent military aircraft to the South China Sea, but they were driven away by the People's Liberation Army. Among them, the Australian military aircraft also ate an aluminum foil jammer fired by the J-16 fighter aircraft .
These facts prove that the US military’s clamor at this time is just to cover up its guilty conscience that it is increasingly difficult to intervene in the South China Sea. As the People's Liberation Army becomes increasingly powerful and China's management of the South China Sea becomes increasingly in-depth, the gap in strength between China and the United States in the South China Sea has been greatly narrowed. The United States can no longer act as unscrupulously in the South China Sea as before. Some American experts have deduced and concluded that once the United States conflicts with China on China's doorstep, it will pay an unbearable price.
At the same time, in order to maintain its presence as the world's police, the United States frequently intervenes in situations in various regions, and its own military strength is already stretched thin. Statistics show that in the first 11 months of this year, the United States dispatched nearly 600 large reconnaissance aircraft to the South China Sea, which seems to be a lot. However, compared with last year, the number of U.S. military aircraft flying in the South China Sea has been greatly reduced, equivalent to only one-half of last year. In the opinion of experts, this shows that while responding to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is difficult for the United States to fully take into account the Asia-Pacific region.
Although the United States has always emphasized that it will return to the South China Sea, the strategic initiative in the South China Sea is clearly in the hands of China. For the United States, instead of lingering in the South China Sea and waiting to humiliate itself, it is better to retreat as soon as possible and stop creating risks in the South China Sea.
