US keeps up spy plane flights over South China Sea, in ‘huge increase’ from 2020
- American reconnaissance has been constant since the start of the year, South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative finds
- Number of flights it reports during May is twice that of a year ago
The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative said in a monthly summary on Thursday that there was a slight month-on-month rise in US reconnaissance flight operations near China’s coast in May, from 65 in April.
But it said the number was a “huge increase compared with the corresponding period last year, which was only 35”.
The think tank previously reported record US spy plane operations over the disputed sea, numbering 70 in January and 75 in February. It said the US Navy operated 57 of the 72 sorties in May, and the US Air Force the remainder.
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Military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) instructor Song Zhongping said reconnaissance flights from the US over the South China Sea were becoming more normal.
“The PLA’s military capabilities are constantly improving, and the US military is increasingly worried,” he said. “On the other hand, the US military is also preparing for combat. Therefore, it has to increase reconnaissance against the PLA.