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User:RightCowLeftCoast/Sandbox/August 2014 Hainan Island intercept

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August 2014 Hainan Island intercept
An armed Chinese Shenyang J-11 fighter jet flies near a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft over the South China Sea about 220 km east of Hainan Island in international airspace.
LocationInternational airspace over South China Sea

Background

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The People's Republic of China is one of three nations which have attempted to restrict foreign military activity in the waters of their claimed Exclusive Economic Zone; in an article in the journal of International Law Studies Raul Pedrozo wrote that there was no basis in customary law or past conventions allowing for such restrictions.[1] There have been numerous events of the People's Republic of China enforcing their restrictions of activities within their claimed Exclusive Economic Zone.[2] One such event was the Hainan Island incident, which was a collision, resulting in an American plane to conduct a emergency landing, and a People's Republic of China pilot was killed.[3] Other such similar events, not involving United States aircraft involved the USNS Impeccable and the USS Cowpens.[4] Earlier in 2014, a People's Liberation Army ship operated off Hawaii conducting surveillance during the RIMPAC exercise.[5] Just the month prior to the August 2014 incident, People's Republic of China vessels were involved in multiple collisions with Vietnamese vessels, with each nation claiming the other nation caused them.[6]

Incident

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J-11 involved in the incident
P-8 from the same U.S. squadron involved in the incident

On 19 August 2014, a People's Republic of China J-11, came within 30 feet of a P-8, assigned to VP-5,[7] while both aircraft were 135 miles east of Hainan Island.[8] The aircraft was armed, flew past the nose of the aircraft at a right angle, and did a barrel roll near the aircraft.[9] The event involved three separate passes of the American aircraft by the People's Republic of China aircraft, and occurred over international airspace in the South China Sea.[10] A Pentagon spokesperson said that the aircraft comes from the same unit as the one who made close intercepts in March, April, and May 2014.[11]

Reactions

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Initially, the United States did not publicize the incident, allowing for a private apology; no apology was received after three days.[12] The United States sent a diplomatic note to China noting a pattern of behavior by the commander of the Chinese fighter group;[13] that the U.S. aircraft on routine missions, had been intercepted three different times since March 2014.[2] It was the belief of the United States that all these aircraft which made the intercepts originated from the same People's Liberation Army Navy air base;[12] The United States believes that the aircraft were from the 8th Fighter Division of the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force.[14] The People's Republic of China responded by stating that the claims were "totally groundless", and said the root of the event is U.S. surveillance of China;[15] the United States responded by saying it will continue to operate in international airspace and waters.[16] Following this incident China and the United States began discussions on conduct.[17][18] The resulting agreement was made during APEC China 2014, and was named "Ruled of Behavior for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters."[19] However, it has been written that the agreement is "not considered legally binding."[6]

Aftermath

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The incident was called a "direct confrontation" by the Rand Corporation between the two nations;[20] Rand Corporation also speculated that how training was conducted by the PLANAF, may have been a factor in causing the incident.[21] The Republic of China's Ministry of National Defense wrote of the incident, that it is one of "significance that should not be overlooked."[22] In a 2016 book, written by Kai He, the event was referred to as the "P-8 incident".[23] The event is detailed in the 2017 book, Countering Coercion in Maritime Asia, where it was seen as growing Chinese assertiveness.[24]

In September 2015, there was a reported "unsafe" intercept of a RC-135 by Chinese aircraft.[25] Due to the two events, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. requested helmet video cameras, such as GoPros, to be equipped to record the interactions with People's Republic of China aircraft;[26] Harris in reference to the August 2014 incident called it "a very dangerous event,".[27]

Following the intercept of the RC-135 intercept, the two nations agreed to the "Annex of the Rules of Behavior for Air-to-Air Encounters."; however American Senator John McCain criticized the timing of the September 2015 intercept, and that the numerous events "raises further questions about China's intentions".[28] In May 2016, the United States reported of an "unsafe" intercept by Chinese aircraft of a EP-3E, coming to within 50 feet of the EP-3E.[29] This event was called "reminiscent" to the August 2014 intercept by Bloomberg.[30] People's Republic of China denied that the intercept was "unsafe", and called for the end of U.S. flights in what it called "Chinese coastal waters"; the intercept in 2016 came days before the 42nd G7 summit.[31] Intercepts continued well into 2017, which included an interecept of a P-3C, by a KJ-200, in February 2017.[32] Due to the increase of intercepts by Chinese aircraft of American surveillance aircraft, the aircraft have been equipped with photography equipment for documenting the intercepts.[33]

These events were seen by the Pentagon as continued efforts by China to challenge United States dominance.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pedrozo, Raul (2014). "Miltiary Activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone: East Asia Focus". International Law Studies. 2014 (514). Stockton Center for the Study of International Law: 514–4543. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b Enrico Fels; Truong-Minh Vu (19 February 2016). Power Politics in Asia’s Contested Waters: Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea. Springer. p. 535. ISBN 978-3-319-26152-2.
  3. ^ Cooper, Helene (11 August 2014). "Pentagon Says Chinese Fighter Jet Confronted American Navy Plane". New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ Peter Kien-hong Yu (5 May 2015). Ocean Governance, Regimes, and the South China Sea Issues: A One-dot Theory Interpretation. Springer. p. 91. ISBN 978-981-287-329-3.
    Tran Truong Thuy; Le Thuy Trang (4 September 2015). Power, Law, and Maritime Order in the South China Sea. Lexington Books. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4985-1277-0.
  5. ^ Erickson, Andrew S.; de La Bruyere, Emily (25 August 2015). "Going Maverick: Lessons from China's Buzzing of a U.S. Navy Aircraft". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
    Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr. (5 November 2015). The Rise of China. Oxford University Press, Incorporated. p. 321. ISBN 978-0-19-935110-7.
    LaGrone, Sam (18 July 2014). "China Sends Uninvited Spy Ship to RIMPAC". USNI News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. ^ a b Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (1 October 2015). Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Oxford University Press. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-19-873781-0.
  7. ^ Burgess, Richard D. (27 August 2014). "Boeing Delivers Another P-8A Poseidon to the Navy". SeaPower. Navy League of the United States. Retrieved 28 August 2014. The second P-8A fleet squadron, VP-5, currently is deployed to Naval Air Facility Kadena in Okinawa, Japan. One of the squadron's aircraft was intercepted Aug. 19 135 miles east of Hainan by a Chinese J-11 fighter, which flew in a potentially hazardous manner around the P-8.
  8. ^ Cohen, Tom (22 August 2014). "'Aggressive' Chinese fighter jet flies dangerously close to U.S. Navy plane". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  9. ^ Whitlock, Craig (22 August 2014). "Pentagon: China tried to block U.S. military jet in dangerous mid-air intercept". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
    Tilghman, Andrew (22 August 2014). "Chinese fighter buzzes U.S. Navy surveillance plane". Navy Times. Gannett. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
    Fisher Jr, Richard D (26 August 2014). "Chinese J-11BH 'aggressive' with USN P-8A, says DoD". IHS Janes 360. IHS. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  10. ^ Schanz, Marc V. (25 August 2014). "Chinese Fighter Conducts Dangerously Close Intercept of US Navy Jet". Air Force Managazine. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  11. ^ Burns, Robert; Baldor, Lolita C. (22 August 2014). "Pentagon Cites 'Dangerous' Chinese Jet Intercept". ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  12. ^ a b Green, Michael; Hicks, Kathleen; Cooper, Zack; Schaus, John; Douglas, Jake (15 May 2017). "Counter-Coercion Series: "Top Gun" Incident". Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  13. ^ Lubold, Gordon (22 August 2014). "Call Sign 'Rogue': Pentagon Says One Chinese Commander Responsible for Spate of Air Confrontations". foreignpolicy.com. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
    Tilghman, Andrew (2 September 2014). "Chinese jet's run-in with P-8 seen as pattern". Army Times. Gannett. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Chinese PLANAF J-11BH conducted dangerous intercept on U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon MPA". Navy Recognition. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  15. ^ "China urges U.S. to stop close-in surveillance". Xinhua. Xinhua News Agency. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
    Hutzler, Charles (23 August 2014). "Beijing Denies Fighter Flew Dangerously Close to U.S. Patrol Plane". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  16. ^ Gertz, Bill (26 August 2014). "Pentagon: No Plan to Reduce Spy Flights". Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Chinese interceptions of US military planes could intensify". CNBC. NBCUniversal. Reuters. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  18. ^ "US and China discuss avoiding military incidents". Washington Post. Associated Press. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  19. ^ Kai He (7 April 2016). China's Crisis Behavior: Political Survival and Foreign Policy after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. pp. 145–146. ISBN 978-1-316-53911-8.
  20. ^ Hans Binnendijk (5 January 2016). Friends, Foes, and Future Directions: U.S. Partnerships in a Turbulent World: Strategic Rethink. Rand Corporation. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-8330-9234-2.
  21. ^ Michael S. Chase; Jeffrey Engstrom; Tai Ming Cheung; Kristen A. Gunness; Scott Warren Harold; Susan Puska; Samuel K. Berkowitz (13 February 2015). China’s Incomplete Military Transformation: Assessing the Weaknesses of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Rand Corporation. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-8330-8831-4.
  22. ^ Shu, Hsiao-Hwang (2014). "A Strategic Review of the Interception of US Navy P-8 Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft by PLAN J-11B and Its Influence" (PDF). Office of Defense Studies. Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  23. ^ Kai He (7 April 2016). China's Crisis Behavior: Political Survival and Foreign Policy after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-316-53911-8.
  24. ^ Michael Green; Kathleen Hicks; Zack Cooper; John Schaus; ake Douglas (24 May 2017). Countering Coercion in Maritime Asia: The Theory and Practice of Gray Zone Deterrence. Center for Strategic & International Studies. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-1-4422-7998-8.
  25. ^ LaGrone, Sam (23 September 2015). "UPDATED: Chinese Aircraft May Have Conducted an Unsafe Intercept of U.S. Surveillance Plane Last Week". USNI News. Maryland. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    Jenkins, Nash (22 September 2015). "A Chinese Jet Performed an 'Unsafe' Move Near a U.S. Spy Plane". Time. New York City. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  26. ^ Gertz, Bill (1 March 2017). "U.S.-Russia helmet video gap?". Washington Times. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  27. ^ Gertz, Bill (23 September 2015). "A Chinese jet nearly collided with a US spy plane". Business Insider. Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  28. ^ Tiezzi, Shannon (26 September 2011). "No More Dangerous Intercepts for US, China Miltary Aircraft?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  29. ^ Crawford, Jamie (19 May 2016). "Pentagon: 'Unsafe' intercept over South China Sea". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    "Chinese jets intercept US spy plane over South China Sea, Pentagon says". BBC News. United Kingdom. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  30. ^ Tweed, David (19 May 2016). "Chinese Fighters Intercept U.S. Plane Over South China Sea". Bloomberg. New York City. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  31. ^ Ali, Indrees; Rajagopalan, Megha (19 May 2016). "China demands end to U.S. surveillance after aircraft intercept". Reuters. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
    LaGrone, Sam (19 May 2016). "China Contests Pentagon Account of 'Unsafe' Intercept of U.S. Navy Surveillance Plane by PLA Fighter". USNI News. Maryland. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  32. ^ James Kraska; Raul Pedrozo (15 June 2018). The Free Sea: The American Fight for Freedom of Navigation. Naval Institute Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-68247-117-3.
  33. ^ Freedberg Jr., Sydney J, (19 May 2016). "PACOM Presses To Film China's Reckless Pilots From P-3s, P-8s". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 1 December 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "China Is Challenging Superiority of U.S. Air Power: Pentagon". NBC News. Reuters. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
    O'Rourke, Ronald (1 August 2018). China’s Actions in South and East China Seas: Implications for U.S. Interests—Background and Issues for Congress (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 1 December 2018 – via Federation of American Scientists.
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