China Sends Fighter Jets To Meet Japan's F-15s In The East China Sea

TBI ^ | 1-11-2013 | Robert Johnson

[blam]

China Sends Fighter Jets To Meet Japan's F-15s In The East China Sea

Robert Johnson
Jan. 11, 2013, 8:49 AM

Sino Defence

After repeatedly flying surveillance aircraft into disputed airspace with Japan, and Tokyo scrambling F-15s in response, China's now sending fighters of its own on "routine flights" into the East China Sea.

China Daily:

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that Chinese military planes were on"routine flights" in relevant airspace over the East China Sea. Spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a press briefing in response to media reports that Japan sent fighter jets to head off a number of Chinese military planes spotted in Japan's "air defense identification zone" over the East China Sea on Thursday.

"China firmly opposes Japan's moves to gratuitously escalate the situation and create tensions," Hong said.

The area north of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, known as the Diaoyus in China, is reportedly home to billions in oil and gas deposits claimed both by Japan and China.

Responding to China's fighter deployment, Japan is considering permitting its F-15 pilots to fire tracer bullets, as warning shots, against Chinese planes. The Global Times calls this, "A step closer to war."

The Chinese jets could be flying from air base Shuimen, built east of the islands in Fujian Province. Satellite imagery of the base first came to light in 2009, but experts believe it reached completion late last year.

The Taipei Times reported in May 2012 that satellite images showed J-10 combat aircraft, Su-30 fighters, and various unmanned drones arriving at the base.

In addition to aircraft experts believe Russian made S-300 long-range surface-to-air missiles ring the airbase, providing some of the best missile protection in the world. The S-300 is comparable to the U.S. made Patriot missile recently sent to Turkey

(snip)

[JRandomFreeper]

Last I heard, the Eagle still has a zero loss rate in A to A combat.

/johnny

[longfellowsmuse]

lived on okinawa for three years, glad to be back in the USA (such as it is)

[Truth29]

"Last I heard, the Eagle still has a zero loss rate in A to A combat."

Technically correct, but the Japanese had an unfortunate incident a number of years ago of one of their F-15s being shot down by friendly air to air fire.

[GBA]

It's been an amazing run, but that record likely won't stand much longer, given the numerical superiority of equal or better opponents, along with the intel the world has gained from studying our methods and equipment these last decades of constant use and from our building our tech.

Proverbs 16:18 has something for us.

[JRandomFreeper]

Ping me when the first F-15 is lost in air-to-air combat.

/johnny

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[PLMerite]

Banzai!!

[glorgau]

I guess it won’t be too long until the first “accident” happens.

[GBA]

Will do, but I'm sure you'll hear about it the same time that I will.

[Mastador1]

How long before Obama comes out with a statement in support of our ally Japan? Anyone?

[Vince Ferrer]

Better yet, how long before Obama tries to defuse the situtation instead of having us sleepwalk into a war no American should want? We are obligated to support Japan by treaty.

[stuartcr]

Isn’t that what any president would do?

[Mastador1]

Sorry, I didn’t think I had to mark my comment as sarcasm.
“Isn’t that what any president would do?” We are not talking about Any President, we are talking about Obummer, the guy who apologizes for America across the globe and throws our allies out with the wash water.

[Mastador1]

Oh you mean like he is setting up in Africa?

[Venturer]

This aint gonna turn out good.

I always figured China would move in on Taiwan, but this Japan thing fooled me. I suppose they figure they can whip Japan and that leaves the US with one less ally in the Pacific. Get Japan out of the way and what do we use as a base.

[stuartcr]

ok, I don’t see it happening, too many Americans over there.

[roadcat]

I suppose they figure they can whip Japan and that leaves the US with one less ally in the Pacific.

Nothing is going to happen. This is simply a distraction tool by the Chinese. They will still move on taking Taiwan, and are simply warning Japan to not interfere lest a war front opens with Japan. Chess pieces moving on a big board. Both China and Japan don't want a war with each other, and will not let hostilities get severe. China in the meantime gets more powerful, and eventually takes Taiwan perhaps through a negotiated settlement where Taiwanese are given limited autonomy. China got it's ass handed to them twice by the Japanese in the last 120 years and remembers not to antagonize the Japanese too much.

[Neidermeyer]

Get Japan out of the way and what do we use as a base.
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The Philippines would take us back ... they need the $$$ , we’re already there with MILF suppression teams ... the biggest problem they had with US was that we weren’t discrete enough or publicly polite enough with their women. We could use a friendly port and airfield in that area.