US and Chinese warplanes briefly met in international waters off the Korean Peninsula in what is said to be a rare occurrence in the region.
US and Chinese warplanes briefly approached the waters off the Korean Peninsula in a rare confrontation between two regional powers, reports Bloomberg.
The incident occurred in international airspace off the west coast of South Korea when about 10 US fighter jets took off from a base in Pyeongtaek to conduct exercises. According to Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified military source, the US plane did not fly into China's air defense identification zone, but Beijing still sent its fighter jets there.
The Chinese side said “The People's Liberation Army has organized naval and air forces to effectively monitor and respond to actions throughout the incident, in accordance with laws and regulations,” Global Times quoted the source as saying. The air defense identification zone is different from national airspace – it is the area where aircraft must announce themselves when approaching.
The command of US forces in South Korea, where 28.5 thousand US soldiers serve, declined to comment promptly on what happened. China's Ministry of National Defense did not respond to the request and South Korea's military ministry said it could not confirm that US aircraft were conducting exercises. According to Yonhap, the Korean military did not participate in these exercises and did not know the details in advance.
Experts note that such flights by US fighter jets near China's air defense zone without Seoul's participation are rare. The situation is developing in the context of China's increased military activities in the Indo-Pacific region and public signals from Washington that the US may reduce its role in containing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while calling on South Korea to assume greater responsibility.
Against this backdrop, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un opened his first party congress in five years, where he promised to “clarify further plans to strengthen the country's nuclear deterrent.”
As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, USA announced on lifting restrictions on humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
US Army statedthat North Korea's missile launches do not pose a threat to the country.
