China's Decreased Interceptions of US Military Aircraft Raises Safety Concerns
China's unsafe interceptions of US military aircraft have significantly decreased, indicating improving relations with Beijing, according to US defense officials
Interceptions of US military aircraft by China have decreased, indicating a potential improvement in relations between the two countries, according to two US defense officials speaking to CNN. After a surge in dangerous incidents in October, the Pentagon publicly criticized China's behavior. However, tensions appear to be easing as officials report a reduction in major incidents since then.
On October 24, officials reported the most recent interception, in which a Chinese fighter jet flew within 10 feet of a US B-52 bomber over the South China Sea. The US Indo-Pacific Command stated that the Chinese pilot exhibited "unsafe and unprofessional" conduct by approaching the larger US aircraft at "uncontrolled excessive speed."
Merely days before, the Defense Department had issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of Chinese "coercive and risky" behavior. According to the Pentagon, there had been over 180 incidents of such behavior in the past two years, exceeding the total for the entire previous decade.
Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, described it as a coordinated effort to influence US operational activity in the region. Despite ongoing Chinese military operations in the South China Sea and the region, the number of incidents has decreased in the two months since the unsafe intercept in late October, according to American officials.
In November, President Joe Biden held a historic meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in California, marking the first time the leaders of the two largest militaries in the world came together. Following the four-hour meeting, Biden expressed optimism about the improvement of their strained relationship, describing the talks as "some of the most constructive and productive discussions we've had."
A month later, the top US and Chinese generals engaged in their first conversation in over a year, as Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. spoke with Peoples Liberation Army of China Chief of the Joint Staff Department Gen. Liu Zhenli. The two leaders emphasized the necessity for "open and direct lines of communication," as stated in a readout of the call from Brown's office.
Xi congratulated Biden in a New Year tweet, acknowledging the challenges both countries faced, but stating they were "moving forward as a whole." Despite a decrease in aircraft interceptions, concerns about China's military growth and nuclear arsenal persist. The US believes China has over 500 operational nuclear warheads, exceeding previous estimates, as outlined in a Pentagon report. Additionally, Beijing is exploring the development of long-range conventionally-armed missiles capable of reaching the United States, as part of its military modernization efforts. This information was released just days before the latest interception incident.
Beijing has ceased its military's interception and disruption of US military aircraft, but there have been several maritime incidents with the Philippines, a close US ally entangled in an escalating South China Sea dispute. In mid-December, the Philippines accused China of sending coast guard and maritime vessels to illegally harass and block Philippine ships from reaching the Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain. The incident was one of the latest in a series between the two countries that has heightened regional tensions.
The US State Department warned China to stop its dangerous and destabilizing behavior, in which Chinese vessels have shown disregard for not only the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos, but also for international law.
China shows no indication of relenting on the issue of Taiwan, a significant point of conflict with the United States. President Xi recently stated that the unification of Taiwan with China is unavoidable, reinforcing Beijing's longstanding position on the independent and democratic island before an important election later this month.
Xi stated during an address commemorating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Peoples Republic of China founder Mao Zedong that the full reunification with the motherland is an unavoidable and just progression that is desired by the people. He also affirmed that the motherland will and must be reunified.
