An American spy plane entered the Chinese no-fly zone where military maneuvers were underway : this is the complaint of the spokesman of the Defense Ministry, Wu Qian, according to which a U-2 reconnaissance jet flew without permission in the northern military region of 'People's Liberation Army. "It has seriously interfered in the normal activities of the maneuvers and seriously violated the code of conduct on bilateral security, for air and sea, and international standards". The US action, called "an obvious provocation", could have "easily led to errors of judgment and even accidents".
"China strongly opposes these provocative actions and has filed a formal protest against the United States," added Wu.
Beijing's disappointment has matured against the backdrop of strong tensions between Washington and Beijing, which now range from military, trade and political issues. US naval forces regularly conduct operations near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, challenging Beijing's territorial claims in the region.
The US reconnaissance plane would have arrived from a military base in South Korea, flying over the Gulf of Bohai, where the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong was also taking part in the exercises that began on Monday, the day in which Beijing also started maneuvers in the South China Sea.
In a statement, the US military said the U-2 flight was "within the scope of accepted international rules and regulations" and that Pacific Air Force personnel "will continue to fly and operate anywhere under international law. allow it, at the time and pace chosen by us ".