U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has issued a report claiming that Chinese PLA aircraft intercepting U.S. reconnaissance aircraft flying near China are increasingly behaving in a dangerous manner. PLA aircraft have “executed exceptionally close approaches; engaged in reckless maneuvers; and breached widely accepted aviation norms and standards,” the report states, the [Washington Times(https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/sep/15/stepped-chinese-aerial-intercepts-may-lead-global-/) reported. The aggressive aerial intercepts “disregard international law and create significant risks of mishap, collision, or loss of life,” the daily argues. “An unintended incident resulting from a dangerous air intercept could spark an international crisis.”
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, commander of Pacific Air Forces and the senior Air Force general in the region, said U.S. military craft “do fly a lot close to China,” but that it is Beijing which is risking a disaster by conducting unsafe intercepts. “It’s not uncommon for U.S. military aircraft to be intercepted 10 times a day,” he said this week during the Air and Space Forces Association annual conference.
“When we call them out on these unprofessional, unsafe [intercepts], they’re not willing to have a discussion,” General Wilsbach said. “We don’t have that kind of conversation. They blame it on us. Their typical response is, ‘This is your fault because this wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t here.’ Now, let’s just get to the gist of the problem, which is what they’re saying is they don’t want us to exercise the same right that they have to be in international airspace.”
