US Reconnaissance Aircraft Flies Near Chinese Coastal Areas Again... "An Increasingly Frequent Occurrence"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] A US reconnaissance aircraft was spotted flying toward the Chinese coast. As tensions between the US and China escalate, the frequency of US military aircraft approaching the South China Sea and areas near mainland China is increasing.

On the 27th, Taiwanese media reported that a US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and an EP-3E reconnaissance aircraft were spotted near Taiwan approaching the coasts of southern Zhejiang Province and Fujian Province in China the previous day.

The P-8A was observed flying southwest along the Zhejiang coast around 12:27 PM, then changed direction to approach waters approximately 41.3 nautical miles (about 76.48 km) from the Chinese territorial baseline near Fujian Province. On the same day, the US Navy EP-3E reconnaissance aircraft flew past southern Taiwan toward the South China Sea and flew close to Fujian Province, China, with the distance to the Chinese territorial baseline being only 57.54 nautical miles (about 106.5 km), the report added.

Taiwanese media interpreted the US Navy’s reconnaissance near the Chinese coast via the South China Sea as having high strategic significance aimed at pressuring China amid the tense US-China relations.

China’s think tank, the South China Sea Strategic Posture Initiative (SCSPI), also stated, "The US has recently increased reconnaissance flights over the South China Sea and near mainland China to record levels," adding, "It has become common for US military aircraft to approach altitudes 50 to 60 nautical miles from mainland China." Furthermore, "Currently, the US military sends 3 to 5 reconnaissance aircraft daily over the South China Sea," and "In the first half of this year, US aerial reconnaissance over the South China Sea has entered a new phase with much more frequent, closer, and more diverse missions," it added.

China also raised its alert level sharply after completing the first maritime test flight of the large amphibious aircraft 'Kunlong,' which is expected to be deployed in the disputed South China Sea region. Chinese state media Global Times evaluated, "Amid a sensitive period of rising tensions in the South China Sea caused by the US, Kunlong’s first test flight demonstrated China’s potential to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.