China shows US its military muscle with patrol off Hong Kong waters amid rising maritime tensions

Days after a ‘dangerous’ Hong Kong-area encounter between Chinese and US military planes, China showed its power by patrolling the region’s air and water

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US military officials said May 19 that two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets like the one shown in this file photo intercepted a US WC-135 plane, which was conducting a radiation survey in international airspace over the East China Sea. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:00am, 8 Jun 2017Updated: 11:22pm, 8 Jun 2017

China conducted a “routine” air and naval patrol of the waters off Hong Kong on Monday, in an apparent show of military power just days after a “dangerous” encounter between Chinese and American military aircraft near the island.

Military analysts believe the maritime patrol by the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – in the lead-up to the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China – clearly targeted US military manoeuvring in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

US military said a WC-135W Constant Phoenix aircraft like this was intercepted by two Chinese fighter jets while conducting a radiation survey in international airspace over the East China Sea. Photo: EPA

The patrol, involving the Qinzhou and Huizhou destroyers and three helicopters, was part of normal monitoring and tracking of suspicious activity in Hong Kong waters and airspace and dealing with emergency situations, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Defence.

Warships from Ngong Shuen Chau naval base headed toward the East Lamma Channel via Victoria Harbour on surveillance patrol, while aircraft from the Shek Kong barracks intercepted suspicious objects as per emergency guidelines.