US sent 60 spy planes close to China in September: Beijing think tank
- Marked rise in flights in Yellow Sea region between China and Korean peninsula, according to Chinese government-backed body
- Increase in air refuelling may suggest United States is preparing for future long-distance missions in the South China Sea, it says
The report said air refuelling activities had shown an uptick last month, possibly suggesting the United States was preparing for future long-distance attacks against targets in the South China Sea.
It said several air refuelling aircraft sent to add fuel to the surveillance planes over the South China Sea had departed from the US’ military base in its western Pacific island territory of Guam.
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Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions
“It‘s unusual for the US to dispatch fuel tankers from Guam [instead of from Kadena airbase in Japan] because such operations are uneconomical and inefficient,” the report said. “Such operations are more probably preparing for future long-distance refuelling in extreme conditions, and thus deserve great attention.
