China Says U.S. MH-60 Seahawks Violated its Airspace Two Days in a Row: Report

China has claimed that U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawks violated its territorial airspace 12 nautical miles from its coast on August 28 and 29.

On Sunday, an intense exchange between a U.S. military plane and the Chinese air force was recorded by Taiwanese aviation enthusiasts, Taiwan News reported.

The U.S. military aircraft reportedly neared the east coast of China from the Taiwan Strait at 8:14 a.m., and received warnings in Mandarin and English, with the latter stating "I am the Chinese Air Force, you are approaching my airspace, leave immediately, or I will intercept." Around 25 minutes later, the American pilot responded: "I am a United States military aircraft conducting lawful military activities in international airspace and exercising these rights as guaranteed by international law. I am operating with due regard to the rights and duties of all states."

After both sides repeated the same message over the subsequent hour, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force broadcaster at 10:32 a.m. could be heard saying in Mandarin and English: "This is the Chinese PLA Air Force, you have entered China's territorial airspace, a serious violation of China's sovereignty, leave immediately, leave immediately!"

On Monday, around 10 a.m., the PLA warned a U.S. military plane that was reportedly approaching its airspace. The U.S. aircraft continued on its course, and was asked to leave immediately after it entered Chinese airspace.

On both days, American aircraft left Chinese airspace after being intercepted by PLA military planes.

A representative of Taiwan ADIZ told Taiwan News that on Sunday, there was one instance in which a U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk helicopter flew inside the 12-nautical mile boundary of China's territorial sea.

Military enthusiast Facebook page Taiwan ADIZ claimed that on Monday, there were two instances of MH-60 Seahawks entering China's 12-nautical mile boundary. In addition, the representative said that on Tuesday (Aug. 30), Japanese military aircraft were warned by the PLA that they were coming close to China's territorial airspace.

The MH-60 Seahawks are likely from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, the USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), which entered the Taiwan Strait on August 28. Both warships carry two Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters.

Defensemirror.com Bureau