US flies B-52 bombers over South and East China Seas as tensions soar over trade
US Defence Secretary James Mattis said he was not concerned the US transit flights would increase tensions with China, while Beijing called the flights ‘provocative’
US B-52 bombers have conducted transit operations in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, amid soaring tensions with Beijing over trade tariffs.
China on Thursday slammed the flyovers as “provocative”.
Late on Tuesday the heavy bombers took part in “a regularly scheduled, combined operation in the East China Sea”, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said.
A defence official said the nuclear-capable aircraft were escorted by Japanese fighters and the flight was part of the Pentagon’s “continuous bomber presence” in the region.
Earlier in the week, B-52s flew through “international airspace over the South China Sea”, Eastburn said.
Such flights are common and usually upset Beijing. China’s Defence Ministry said it would respond with “necessary means”.
