Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chinese jets chase U.S. surveillance jet over Taiwan Strait
Washington Times ^ | July 25, 2011 | Bill Gertz

Posted on 07/25/2011 6:43:11 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

Two Chinese warplanes intercepted an American spy plane over the tense Taiwan Strait last month in China’s most aggressive challenge to U.S. surveillance flights since a 2001 collision that touched off an international crisis.

According to defense officials, the intercept took place June 29. The two Chinese jets flew from a base in China to head off an Air Force U-2 spy plane over the dividing line in the 100-mile wide Taiwan Strait.

“In general, these reconnaissance flights are conducted in international airspace, as are the PRC [Chinese] intercepts, which happen fairly routinely,” said a Pentagon official familiar with the incident.

“There is no ‘repel’ aspect to them,” he said of reports from Asia that the Chinese jets had “repelled” the U-2 flight during the intercept.

A Pacific Command spokesman declined to provide details of the incident other than to say it occurred June 29 as the Air Force was conducting a routine operation in international airspace in the area of the East China Sea.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; china; foreignpolicy; sr71; taiwan; u2
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-149 next last
To: truthguy
Satellites were supposed to do it all. Apparently not in some cases.

Despite what Hollywood tells us, satellites don't have the resolution that a U2 or SR-71 can provide.

41 posted on 07/25/2011 8:00:30 PM PDT by The Theophilus (Obama's Key to win 2012: Ban Haloperidol)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ExpatGator
I presume that the Chinese will act in what they believe to be their self interest.
42 posted on 07/25/2011 8:03:48 PM PDT by Ken H
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Just a couple years ago, the PRC shot down a satellite from Earth.


43 posted on 07/25/2011 8:04:25 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I am reminded of the term “hubris”.


44 posted on 07/25/2011 8:06:48 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: mylife
Wa Hu do!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
45 posted on 07/25/2011 8:08:10 PM PDT by Mr. Jazzy (The United States Marine Corps, your greatest friend or your worst enemy. YOU choose.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

“I was a stroke of brilliance to retire the SR-71, wasn’t it?”

The Aurora is much faster.


46 posted on 07/25/2011 8:09:02 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (I love how the FR spellchecker doesn't recognize the word "Obama")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: HereInTheHeartland

>>The Aurora is much faster.<<

We all wish.


47 posted on 07/25/2011 8:10:37 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Herman Cain 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Oh sorry I understand (now) after re-reading your point.

Earlier today I read a different version of this story - which focused on the dividing line between China and Taiwan.

The gist of that story was, the last time the PRC violated the mid-point of the Taiwan Strait was in 1999. The story mentioned the US plane was already out of the area, by the time the ChiCom jets crossed into Taiwan airspace.

The description mentioned something to the effect “obviously at a different altitude” than the American jet.

So while China may have such capability, they did not use it this day. I’d hope our own people presume they can, just to be prudent.


48 posted on 07/25/2011 8:13:20 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Trod Upon
"These people are forgetting that they are posting from computers and over network equipment built (and now often designed) in China."

Well, other than the fact that all of your post was total and complete BS (I don't know if it was born in lack of knowledge or deliberate, emotional disinformation), that statement is particularly egregious.

Well over 90% of the internet is provided by Cisco, San Jose.

Intel, Sun, AMD and IBM make over 90% of all processors associated with the with the internet.

All design and engineering of those products occurs in the USA.

While almost all manufacturing of their products occurs overseas, a very, very small fraction occurs in China.

Plus, all the tools used in the manufacturing process come from either the USA or Japan.

The Chinese don't have anything to do with the internet or it's associated technologies, inclusive of software.

Dude, get a grip.

49 posted on 07/25/2011 8:14:08 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: gaijin
I’m sure not at the same altitude, but that’s still sort of impressive.

Chicom's SU-27's trying to intercept a Dragon Lady? FAS.org says Flanker flight ceiling 15,280 meters to 18,000 meters Chicom fighters would have to climb to >25,000 meters to catch the Dragon Lady...

50 posted on 07/25/2011 8:15:33 PM PDT by hamboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

You’re a bit about disinformation. No?


51 posted on 07/25/2011 8:16:19 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase; hinckley buzzard

>>Bush the first in 1989.<<

The New World Order Bush.


52 posted on 07/25/2011 8:18:47 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Allowing Islam into America is akin to injecting yourself with AIDS to prove how tolerant you are...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network
"I am reminded of the term “hubris”.

The next time that term comes into your head try to associate it with the word "knowledge".

Spend some time learning about each countries' real capabilities. A simple Wikipedia search will get you started.

53 posted on 07/25/2011 8:19:24 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: SnuffaBolshevik
>>My point is that the average clueless American buying cheesy ChiCom patio furniture at WalMart doesn't have a clue about the military chess game that is going on off Taiwan.

But they will soon enough. <<

And the'll continue to buy every cheesy ChiCom product they can.

DSC_1801

DSC_1665

DSC_1804

DSC_1814


54 posted on 07/25/2011 8:23:18 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Allowing Islam into America is akin to injecting yourself with AIDS to prove how tolerant you are...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network
"You’re a bit about disinformation. No?"

Hey, I have an idea: How about you extol a particular Chinese "capability", one by one, and allow me to respond to each of them?

Obviously it's not sufficient for me to just issue a blanket dismissal of their vaunted military capabilities, so let's take them on one at a time?

55 posted on 07/25/2011 8:24:06 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: B4Ranch

Ambassador to the PRC Bush, IIRC.

Thing about Chinese culture is, it appears different depending on your position.

Bush would have been treated almost as a god. His ego would have been on utter overload, 24/7 from the moment he set foot on the CAAC flight there, until his departure.

His impression of China would have been utterly unrealistic.

Ask average Tibetans, for a more rational view. Then think about what is different about those two (equally valid) realities of China.

One word:

Power.

We are becoming less powerful. We will see a terrible change, in China, as that happens.


56 posted on 07/25/2011 8:24:59 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: cmsgop
Wong Wei cowboy

US EP-3 / Chinese F-8 mid air collision wreck- Bush Cheney

57 posted on 07/25/2011 8:25:49 PM PDT by ResearchMonkey (Holding Conservative Country in California.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: truthguy; TigersEye; mojitojoe; Fred Nerks; LucyT
The Chinese Junk fighters aren't ever gonna catch a U2 anyway.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

U2s operate at altitudes upwards of 70,000 feet, PLUS. Unless the Chinese have equipment we do not know of, this is how you say, "flame out" in Chinese:

熄火! ( Xīhuǒ!)

Photobucket

58 posted on 07/25/2011 8:26:04 PM PDT by Candor7 (Obama fascist info..http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Candor7

I believe it’s a fair assumption, the PLA has quite a huge amount of capability we do not know about.


59 posted on 07/25/2011 8:28:39 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (America First!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network

>>We are becoming less powerful. We will see a terrible change, in China, as that happens.<<

All we have to do is look at China through the eyes of one of its citizens. If you have lots of money, you’ll be OK. No money means walk lightly.


60 posted on 07/25/2011 8:29:35 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Allowing Islam into America is akin to injecting yourself with AIDS to prove how tolerant you are...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-149 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson