US intelligence aircraft made a record number of flights over the South China Sea near the PRC coast. This is reported by South China Morning POST with reference to the data of the Chinese analytical center SCSPI.
In November, the Center recorded 94 similar departures of American aircraft. It is 30 percent more than the previous record in 75 departures installed in February.
According to SCSPI, 80 percent of intelligence operations used antique P-8A patrol aircraft. Also used the US drone MQ-4C and aircraft surveillance aircraft E-8C.
According to the Center, the United States also expanded the range of intelligence. So, the P-8a aircraft made a flight over the Taiwanese strait 29 kilometers from the territorial water of the mainland China.
Washington has increased the number of intelligence flights against the background of activating the campaign of the People’s Liberation Army of China (NAK) in the Strait. Beijing believes Taiwan with his breakaway province and, in the case of Taipei’s refusal to go on political concessions, does not exclude the use of force to establish control over a self-governing island.
Previously, satellites were separated by a Chinese nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles in the Taiwan Strait. Observer of the US Naval Institute HR Sutton said that improved submarine NAMA NAK Type 094 carries JL-2 ballistic missiles with a range of about seven thousand kilometers who can hit the northeast of the United States.