US-China Competition Over Recovery of F-35 Wreckage Crashed in the South China Sea

Concerns Over Leakage of US Latest Stealth Technology
Disputes Feared if US Warships Stationed in Salvage Area

[Image source=U.S. Navy website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States and China are reportedly competing to recover the wreckage of a U.S. Navy F-35C fighter jet that crashed and sank to the seabed during a landing on an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. In particular, the U.S. is expected to deploy naval vessels for an extended period in the area to search for the fighter jet wreckage, as there are concerns that if the debris of the latest stealth fighter, the F-35C, falls into Chinese hands, military technology leakage could occur. There are also concerns that if China protests this, military tensions in the region could escalate further.

On the 25th (local time), Nicholas Ringgo, spokesperson for the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, stated in an interview with CNN that "the U.S. Navy is preparing salvage operations for the F-35C fighter jet that crashed during landing on the USS Carl Vinson." According to the U.S. Navy, the fighter jet crashed due to a failed landing while conducting training in the South China Sea the previous day and sank to the seabed. The accident injured seven personnel, including the fighter pilot and crew working on the aircraft carrier deck.

CNN cited experts who pointed out that if China locates the wreckage of the F-35C fighter jet sunk to the seabed, there is a possibility of military technology leakage. Karl Schuster, former operations chief at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Center, explained in an interview with CNN, "China will mobilize its currently operated submarines and deep-sea submersibles to secure the sunken fighter jet wreckage," adding, "China especially claims sovereignty over the South China Sea and may insist that salvage rights belong to them."

The F-35C fighter jet is a carrier-based variant of the U.S.'s latest stealth fighter, the F-35, which was unveiled in 2019 and is being deployed on aircraft carriers for the first time. Since China is considered to lag behind the U.S. in stealth fighter and engine manufacturing technology, there are concerns that securing the wreckage could lead to significant military secrets being leaked.

As a result, the possibility of a clash between the U.S. and China over the salvage operation has also been raised. CNN pointed out that it will take about 10 to 15 days for the U.S. military's salvage vessels to arrive in the South China Sea, and considering the entire salvage period, it could take more than 120 days, during which U.S. naval vessels may remain stationed in the South China Sea for an extended period.

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