In what was referred to as a freedom of navigation operation, a pair of flew within 12 miles of China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. This flight was the latest in a tit-for-tit military responses between China and the U.S. regarding China’s ambitions in the South China Sea.

Flying from Guam, the two bombers took off on November 8th and 9th, transiting to the southwest and over China’s island reclamation projects in the South China Sea. They received constant warnings from Chinese air controllers while approaching the islands, but continued on unphased, completing their missions without incident.

The disclosure of these flights comes soon after the U.S. sent the around their islands, and action to which

China posted pictures of armed J-11 Flanker fighters operating from Woody Island located in the…

During last, New Jersey Governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie said

I will tell you this, they’re building those artificial islands in the South China Sea and the president won’t — up until recently, wouldn’t sail a ship within 12 miles or fly a plane over it. I’ll tell you this, the first thing I’ll do with the Chinese is I’ll throw — I’ll fly Air Force One over those islands. They’ll know we mean business.

Last night’s Republican Presidential Debate was focused mainly on the economy, although there was a

I don’t think the Chinese would have much fear of a modified 747 prowling the borders of their island outposts, but pushing a pair of iconic and very deadly B-52 bombers very near those islands surely sent a strong message. Now China will likely feel a need to respond, and it is uncertain as to what options they will have left to do so. Possibly a flight of Chinese bombers over Guam, perhaps? China’s H-6 bomber , so this is entirely possible.

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flying near China’s man-made islands in the South

You can be almost certain of one thing: once China’s man-made islands are ready to accept fighter aircraft and high-end military hardware, they will be quickly armed to the teeth. When that happens, these types of “freedom of navigation” exercises will become a much more nerve-wracking and riskier affair than they are today.

Contact the author [email protected]