US surveillance the real issue

After a Chinese fighter jet made a regular identification and verification of a US anti-submarine plane in the "international airspace" of the South China Sea, Washington accused Chinese jet of an "illegal" interception and a "dangerous operation" as it came within fifteen meters of its US counterpart. However, what needs to be made clear is that frequent close-in surveillance of another independent country has no legality at all. Confronted with US hegemony under the cloak of "free navigation", the Chinese fighter was entitled to make a safe interception and protect the country's military intelligence from being spied upon.

China Central Television, Aug 23.

The criticism made by the US that the Chinese plane's actions were a "provocation" during the encounter on Aug 19 is totally groundless. It is the US' massive and frequent close-in surveillance of China that endangered the two pilots as this is the root cause of such accidents. We urge Washington to abide by both international law and international practice, respect the concerns of the coastal countries in the region, and properly deal with the differences between the two sides on air and marine security issues.

Washington should thus follow the principle of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and make concrete moves to reduce and eventually stop close-in surveillance of China, so as to create a sound atmosphere for bilateral military ties.

Yang Yujun, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, people.com.cn, Aug 23.

Given Washington's strong inclination to implement a "pivot to Asia" policy and the growing military power of the Chinese army, bilateral frictions such as air encounters are more likely to increase in the years to come. Likewise, more press conferences convened by both the Pentagon and Chinese Defense Ministry are expected to address similar disputes. One can easily presume the whole picture of a military encounter from the US accusations of China: normally, the Chinese side is deemed "unprofessional" if it successfully prevents the US provocation.