U2 Reconnaissance Aircraft at 27km Altitude Conducts Reconnaissance Flight over Chinese Military Training
Despite Prior Notice of Military Exercise, "Dangerous Flight Endangering US Troops' Lives"
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The U.S. U2 reconnaissance aircraft conducted surveillance over the Chinese People's Liberation Army's maritime training area, prompting protests from Chinese military authorities. The U.S. Air Force's U2 reconnaissance aircraft is a high-altitude spy plane used for intelligence gathering.
On the 26th, according to Chinese state-run media such as the Global Times, the U.S. U2 reconnaissance aircraft intruded into a live-fire training zone in the northern operational area of the Chinese military, which is a no-fly zone.
Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, stated, "Despite the Chinese military's announcement of maritime live-fire training, the U.S. U2 reconnaissance aircraft conducted surveillance in the area," adding, "Such actions are highly provocative and extremely dangerous."
The U2 reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the US Air Force can monitor various ground targets from an altitude of over 21 km. (Source: US Air Force website)
He further said, "Interfering with the Chinese military's training could lead to accidental collisions or other unfortunate incidents," and criticized the U.S. side by saying, "Provocative actions must be stopped immediately."
The Chinese military had previously announced that from the 22nd to the 26th, large-scale military exercises would be conducted in the Yellow Sea near Qingdao, specifically in the maritime area east of Lianyungang (southeast of the Shandong Peninsula).
Regarding this, a military source explained in an interview with the Global Times, "Ignoring the no-fly zone announced in advance by the Chinese military and conducting reconnaissance was intentional and tantamount to a provocation against China."
The source added that under international law, no-fly zones must be designated and announced during military exercises to prevent accidental incidents, noting this is an international convention.
The Global Times reported that reconnaissance flights in no-fly zones are dangerous actions that risk the lives of U.S. military personnel, and that the Chinese military had been monitoring the U2 reconnaissance aircraft even before it intruded into the no-fly zone.
The U2 reconnaissance aircraft can monitor various ground targets from altitudes above 21 km regardless of day or night, earning it the reputation as a symbol of spy planes. Its maximum altitude is known to be 27.43 km.
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