US fighter jets staged ‘largest-ever’ show of force against China, Japanese government sources say

In an extremely rare development, some US fighters neared the Chinese mainland last month, prompting Beijing to scramble its jets in response

Washington was trying to put pressure on China over Taiwan and gauge the Chinese military’s ability to respond to such an operation, the sources said

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US fighter jets pictured with a Marine Corps refuelling aircraft in 2016. Last month’s week-long operation saw seven or eight planes airborne each day, often carrying out air-to-air refuelling. Photo: US Marine Corps via AP

Published: 9:34am, 26 Jul 2022

The United States flew a large number of fighter jets late last month above an area in the East China Sea that Japan and China dispute, Japanese government sources said.

In an extremely rare development, some of the US fighters neared the Chinese mainland by going beyond a Tokyo-proposed median line separating the exclusive economic zones of Japan and China, the sources said. China scrambled its fighters in response, warning the US side that provocative acts would face counter-attack.

The operation lasted for about a week from June 24, the sources said on Monday.

Japanese coastguard vessel and boats seen near the disputed Diaoyu Islands, which Japan administers and calls the Senkakus. Photo: AP

Two US planes flew in a unit from south of Jeju Island in southern South Korea to the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which Japan administers and calls the Senkakus, the sources said. Seven or eight planes were airborne each day and they often conducted air-to-air refuelling.

“About 10 per cent” of the fighters flew past the median line into the Chinese side, according to the sources. Japan joined the operation by flying early warning aircraft, but did not dispatch fighter jets.

US President Joe Biden said last week he would speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the coming days. Ways to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries might be discussed.

Washington had informed Tokyo in advance of the operation, saying it is trying to put pressure on China, which has been expanding military activities near Taiwan, according to the sources.