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China has practiced bombing runs targeting Guam, US says
[DefenseNews] Over the last year Japan has scrambled 900 sorties to intercept Chinese fighters challenging Japan’s air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In 2013 China announced borders for its own ADIZ, borders which overlapped Japan’s zone and included the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Since then, increased interactions between Japanese and Chinese aircraft ultimately resulted in Japan relocating two fighter squadrons to Naha Air Base on Okinawa to more easily meet the incursions, the officials said. "We now have, on a daily basis, armed Chinese Flankers and Japanese aircraft" coming in close proximity of each other, the officials said, adding that intercepts between the U.S. and China are also increasing. "It’s very common for PRC aircraft to intercept U.S. aircraft" these days, the officials said, referring to the People’s Republic of China. Chinese aircraft are also testing U.S. air defense identification zones, the officials said. Chinese H-6K "Badger" bombers upgraded with 1,000 mile range air launched cruise missiles are testing U.S. defense zones around Guam. The Badgers run "not infrequent" flights to get within range of the U.S. territory, they said. "The PRC is practicing attacks on Guam," the officials said. The vast majority of the flights occur without an incident, such as a report of unsafe flying, for example. The officials said they follow U.S. Pacific Command guidance on how to respond in those events, so they do not further escalate. ... Posted by: Anomalous Sources 2017-11-09 |
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