[ad_1]
U.S. officers stated the incident occurred Friday. The Chinese language Embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The RC-135, which is used to collect radio communications and different indicators intelligence, was flying in worldwide airspace, stated officers with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The US, the assertion stated, will proceed to fly, sail and function safely “wherever worldwide regulation permits.”
“We anticipate all international locations within the Indo-Pacific area,” the U.S. assertion stated, “to make use of worldwide airspace safely and in accordance with worldwide regulation.”
The intercept, at least the second such incident since late final 12 months, occurred as relations between China and the US stay fraught.
Each international locations are vying for added companions within the area amid tensions over Taiwan and China’s different regional ambitions have raised alarm in Washington and amongst U.S. allies within the Pacific.
Simply days earlier than this most up-to-date midair encounter, the US and Papua New Guinea signed a new defense cooperation agreement that can carry the 2 nations nearer and permit their militaries to coach collectively.
A separate settlement was signed final 12 months between China and the Solomon Islands, elevating issues that China could search to construct a army base there.
[ad_2]
