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 Chinas 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 ...
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.
Just a couple years ago, the PRC shot down a satellite from Earth.
I am reminded of the term “hubris”.
“I was a stroke of brilliance to retire the SR-71, wasnt it?”
The Aurora is much faster.
>>The Aurora is much faster.<<
We all wish.
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.
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.
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...
You’re a bit about disinformation. No?
>>Bush the first in 1989.<<
The New World Order Bush.
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.
But they will soon enough. <<
And the'll continue to buy every cheesy ChiCom product they can.
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?
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.
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!)
I believe it’s a fair assumption, the PLA has quite a huge amount of capability we do not know about.
>>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.
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