- A USAF general assured it will continue sending military patrols over the contested territory
- She urged other nations to challenge China by exercising their freedom of navigation over international waters
- The general also bared plans of an increased military presence in the Asia-Pacific region
Gen. Lori Robinson, commander of the Pacific Air Forces
CANBERRA, Australia – The United States Air Force will continue to fly over the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea despite the apparent build-up of Chinese artillery in the disputed islands; this was assured by a ranking USAF officer on March 8.
General Lori Robinson, the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, told reporters in Canberra, Australia on Tuesday that the USAF will not stop sending daily missions over the contested waterways; even as both Washington and Beijing are in discussion to avoid any ‘miscalculation’ that could lead to more conflict.
She also urged all other nations to continue challenging China’s increasing assertion of so-called absolute sovereignty by exercising freedom of navigation over what is generally considered part of international waters and airspace, through which around US$ 5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.
“We’ve watched the increased military capability on those islands, whether it’s the fighters, whether it’s the missiles or the 10,000-foot runways,” General Robinson said; referring to China’s recent deployment of surface-to-air missile system and fighter jets to Woody Island — a feature that is part of Paracels’ chain off the coast of Vietnam.
“We will continue to do as we’ve always done, and that is fly and sail in international airspace in accordance to international rules and norms,” the Air Force official stressed.
However, Robinson declined to elaborate how the US will respond in the event its jets are shot down by Chinese troops.
On the possibility of a miscalculation, Robinson explained that Washington and Bejing has signed an agreement in September last year on air-to-air rules of behavior in international airspace and discussions are in progress.
“That has allowed us to have continuous dialogue with the Chinese about how to conduct safe intercepts and intercepts in accordance with international rules and norms,” she said.
She further bared plan on an increased military presence in the Asia-Pacific region by discussing with Australian counterparts to rotate USAF bombers through its Australian air force bases at Darwin and Tindal.
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