User:RightCowLeftCoast/Sandbox/August 2014 Hainan Island intercept

The People's Republic of China is one of three nations which have attempted to restrict foreign military activity in the waters of their claimed Exclusive Economic Zone; in an article in the journal of International Law Studies Raul Pedrozo wrote that there was no basis in customary law or past conventions allowing for such restrictions.{{cite journal |last=Pedrozo |first=Raul |date=2014 |title=Miltiary Activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone: East Asia Focus |url=https://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/973bec67-9225-4dde-9550-26279c600e2f/Military-Activities-in-the-Exclusive-Economic-Zone.aspx |journal=International Law Studies |volume=2014 |issue=514 |pages=514-4543 |publisher=Stockton Center for the Study of International Law |access-date=22 March 2017 }} There have been numerous events of the People's Republic of China enforcing their restrictions of activities within their claimed Exclusive Economic Zone. One such event was the Hainan Island incident, which was a collision, resulting in an American plane to conduct a emergency landing, and a People's Republic of China pilot was killed.{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |date=11 August 2014 |title=Pentagon Says Chinese Fighter Jet Confronted American Navy Plane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/world/asia/us-says-chinese-fighter-jet-confronted-american-navy-plane.html?_r=0 | work=New York Times |access-date=22 March 2017 }} Other such similar events, not involving United States aircraft involved the USNS Impeccable and the USS Cowpens.{{cite book|author=Peter Kien-hong Yu|title=Ocean Governance, Regimes, and the South China Sea Issues: A One-dot Theory Interpretation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K8AlCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA91|date=5 May 2015|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-981-287-329-3|page=91}}
{{cite book|author1=Tran Truong Thuy|author2=Le Thuy Trang|title=Power, Law, and Maritime Order in the South China Sea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d89_CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA20|date=4 September 2015|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=978-1-4985-1277-0|page=20}} Earlier in 2014, a People's Liberation Army ship operated off Hawaii conducting surveillance during the RIMPAC exercise.{{cite news |last=Erickson |first=Andrew S. |last2=de La Bruyere |first2=Emily |date=25 August 2015 |title=Going Maverick: Lessons from China’s Buzzing of a U.S. Navy Aircraft |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/08/25/going-maverick-lessons-from-chinas-buzzing-of-a-u-s-navy-aircraft/ | work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=22 March 2017 }}
{{cite book|author=Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.|title=The Rise of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=67mYCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA321|date=5 November 2015|publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-19-935110-7|page=321}}
{{cite news |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=18 July 2014 |title=China Sends Uninvited Spy Ship to RIMPAC |url=https://news.usni.org/2014/07/18/china-sends-uninvited-spy-ship-rimpac | work=USNI News |access-date=22 March 2017 }} Just the month prior to the August 2014 incident, People's Republic of China vessels were involved in multiple collisions with Vietnamese vessels, with each nation claiming the other nation caused them.{{cite book|author=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|title=Armaments, Disarmament and International Security|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jx7uCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA271|date=1 October 2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-873781-0|page=271}}

File:Chinese-j-11.jpg

File:P-8A of VP-5 over the Philippine Sea in September 2014.JPG

On 19 August 2014, a People's Republic of China J-11, came within 30 feet of a P-8, assigned to VP-5,{{cite news |last=Burgess |first=Richard D. |date=27 August 2014 |title=Boeing Delivers Another P-8A Poseidon to the Navy |url=http://www.seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140827-p8.html |newspaper=SeaPower |publisher=Navy League of the United States |accessdate=28 August 2014 |quote=The second P-8A fleet squadron, VP-5, currently is deployed to Naval Air Facility Kadena in Okinawa, Japan. One of the squadron’s aircraft was intercepted Aug. 19 135 miles east of Hainan by a Chinese J-11 fighter, which flew in a potentially hazardous manner around the P-8. }} while both aircraft were 135 miles east of Hainan Island.{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Tom |date=22 August 2014 |title='Aggressive' Chinese fighter jet flies dangerously close to U.S. Navy plane |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/22/world/asia/us-china-air-encounter/index.html |newspaper=CNN |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. |accessdate=22 August 2014 }} The aircraft was armed, flew past the nose of the aircraft at a right angle, and did a barrel roll near the aircraft.{{cite news |last=Whitlock |first=Craig |date=22 August 2014 |title=Pentagon: China tried to block U.S. military jet in dangerous mid-air intercept |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-china-tried-to-block-us-military-jet-in-dangerous-mid-air-intercept/2014/08/22/533d24e8-2a1b-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |accessdate=23 August 2014 }}
{{cite news |last=Tilghman |first=Andrew |date=22 August 2014 |title=Chinese fighter buzzes U.S. Navy surveillance plane |url=http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140822/NEWS05/308220062/Chinese-fighter-buzzes-U-S-Navy-surveillance-plane |newspaper=Navy Times |publisher=Gannett |accessdate=23 August 2014 }}
{{cite news |last=Fisher Jr |first=Richard D |date=26 August 2014 |title=Chinese J-11BH 'aggressive' with USN P-8A, says DoD |url=http://www.janes.com/article/42322/chinese-j-11bh-aggressive-with-usn-p-8a-says-dod |newspaper=IHS Janes 360 |publisher=IHS |accessdate=2 September 2014 }} The event involved three separate passes of the American aircraft by the People's Republic of China aircraft, and occurred over international airspace in the South China Sea.{{cite news |last=Schanz |first=Marc V. |date=25 August 2014 |title=

Chinese Fighter Conducts Dangerously Close Intercept of US Navy Jet |url=http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/default.aspx?Date=08/25/2014 | work=Air Force Managazine |location=Arlington, Virginia |access-date=22 March 2017 }} A Pentagon spokesperson said that the aircraft comes from the same unit as the one who made close intercepts in March, April, and May 2014.{{cite news |last=Burns |first=Robert |last2=Baldor |first2=Lolita C. |date=22 August 2014 |title=Pentagon Cites 'Dangerous' Chinese Jet Intercept |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/pentagon-cites-dangerous-chinese-jet-intercept-25086587 |newspaper=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures |accessdate=22 August 2014}}

Initially, the United States did not publicize the incident, allowing for a private apology; no apology was received after three days. The United States sent a diplomatic note to China noting a pattern of behavior by the commander of the Chinese fighter group;{{cite news |url=http://complex.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/08/22/call_sign_rogue_pentagon_says_one_chinese_commander_responsible_for_spate_of_air_co |title=Call Sign 'Rogue': Pentagon Says One Chinese Commander Responsible for Spate of Air Confrontations |last1=Lubold |first1=Gordon |date=22 August 2014 |website=foreignpolicy.com |publisher=Foreign Policy |accessdate=23 August 2014}}
{{cite news |last=Tilghman |first=Andrew |date=2 September 2014 |title=Chinese jet's run-in with P-8 seen as pattern |url=http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140902/NEWS/309020049/Chinese-jet-s-run-P-8-seen-pattern |newspaper=Army Times |publisher=Gannett |accessdate=2 September 2014 }} that the U.S. aircraft on routine missions, had been intercepted three different times since March 2014.{{cite book|author1=Enrico Fels|author2=Truong-Minh Vu|title=Power Politics in Asia’s Contested Waters: Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9KbCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA535|date=2016-02-19|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-26152-2|page=535}} It was the belief of the United States that all these aircraft which made the intercepts originated from the same People's Liberation Army Navy air base;{{cite web |url=https://amti.csis.org/counter-co-top-gun-incident/ |title=Counter-Coercion Series: "Top Gun" Incident |last=Green |first=Michael |last2=Hicks |first2=Kathleen |last3=Cooper |first3=Zack |last4=Schaus |first4=John |last5=Douglas |first5=Jake |date=15 May 2017 |website=Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |access-date=5 February 2019}} The United States believes that the aircraft were from the 8th Fighter Division of the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force.{{cite web |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/august-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1960-chinese-planaf-j-11bh-conducted-dangerous-intercept-on-us-navy-p-8a-poseidon-mpa.html |title=Chinese PLANAF J-11BH conducted dangerous intercept on U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon MPA |author= |date=23 August 2014 |website=Navy Recognition |access-date=22 March 2017}} The People's Republic of China responded by stating that the claims were "totally groundless", and said the root of the event is U.S. surveillance of China;{{cite news |author= |date=23 August 2014 |title=China urges U.S. to stop close-in surveillance |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-08/23/c_133578974.htm |newspaper=Xinhua |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |accessdate=23 August 2014 }}
{{cite news |last=Hutzler |first=Charles |date=23 August 2014 |title=Beijing Denies Fighter Flew Dangerously Close to U.S. Patrol Plane |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/china-denies-fighter-flew-dangerously-close-to-u-s-patrol-plane-1408810331 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |accessdate=23 August 2014 }} the United States responded by saying it will continue to operate in international airspace and waters.{{cite news |last=Gertz |first=Bill |date=26 August 2014 |title=Pentagon: No Plan to Reduce Spy Flights |url=http://freebeacon.com/national-security/pentagon-no-plan-to-reduce-spy-flights/ |newspaper=Washington Free Beacon |accessdate=26 August 2014 }} Following this incident China and the United States began discussions on conduct.{{cite news |author= |date=28 August 2014 |title=Chinese interceptions of US military planes could intensify |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/101956286#. |newspaper=CNBC |agency=Reuters |publisher=NBCUniversal |accessdate=28 August 2014 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/us-china-us-should-avoid-military-incidents/2014/09/09/58ea044a-37d8-11e4-a023-1d61f7f31a05_story.html |title=US and China discuss avoiding military incidents |date=9 September 2014 |newspaper=Washington Post |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=9 September 2014}} The resulting agreement was made during APEC China 2014, and was named "Ruled of Behavior for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters."{{cite book|author=Kai He|title=China's Crisis Behavior: Political Survival and Foreign Policy after the Cold War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TW9NDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145|date=7 April 2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-316-53911-8|pages=145–146}} However, it has been written that the agreement is "not considered legally binding."

The incident was called a "direct confrontation" by the Rand Corporation between the two nations;{{cite book|author=Hans Binnendijk|title=Friends, Foes, and Future Directions: U.S. Partnerships in a Turbulent World: Strategic Rethink|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zkN7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT87|date=5 January 2016|publisher=Rand Corporation|isbn=978-0-8330-9234-2|page=87}} Rand Corporation also speculated that how training was conducted by the PLANAF, may have been a factor in causing the incident.{{cite book|author1=Michael S. Chase|author2=Jeffrey Engstrom|author3=Tai Ming Cheung|author4=Kristen A. Gunness|author5=Scott Warren Harold|author6=Susan Puska|author7=Samuel K. Berkowitz|title=China’s Incomplete Military Transformation: Assessing the Weaknesses of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ynD_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT125|date=13 February 2015|publisher=Rand Corporation|isbn=978-0-8330-8831-4|pages=124–125}} The Republic of China's Ministry of National Defense wrote of the incident, that it is one of "significance that should not be overlooked."{{cite web |url=https://www.mnd.gov.tw/Upload/UserFiles/File/%E5%9C%8B%E9%98%B2%E6%99%BA%E5%BA%ABPDF%E6%AA%94/Defense%20Strategic%20and%20Assessment-Vol5No4-41-68-Su.pdf |title=A Strategic Review of the Interception of US Navy P-8 Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft by PLAN J-11B and Its Influence |last=Shu |first=Hsiao-Hwang |date=2014 |website=Office of Defense Studies |publisher=Ministry of Defense |access-date=22 March 2017 }} In a 2016 book, written by Kai He, the event was referred to as the "P-8 incident".{{cite book|author=Kai He|title=China's Crisis Behavior: Political Survival and Foreign Policy after the Cold War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TW9NDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145|date=7 April 2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-316-53911-8|page=145}} The event is detailed in the 2017 book, Countering Coercion in Maritime Asia, where it was seen as growing Chinese assertiveness.{{cite book|author1=Michael Green|author2=Kathleen Hicks|author3=Zack Cooper|author4=John Schaus |author5=ake Douglas|title=Countering Coercion in Maritime Asia: The Theory and Practice of Gray Zone Deterrence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQolDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA228|date=24 May 2017|publisher=Center for Strategic & International Studies|isbn=978-1-4422-7998-8|pages=228–229}}

In September 2015, there was a reported "unsafe" intercept of a RC-135 by Chinese aircraft.{{cite news |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=23 September 2015 |title=UPDATED: Chinese Aircraft May Have Conducted an Unsafe Intercept of U.S. Surveillance Plane Last Week |url=https://news.usni.org/2015/09/22/pentagon-chinese-aircraft-conducted-an-unsafe-intercept-of-u-s-surveillance-plane-last-week | work=USNI News |location=Maryland |access-date=8 March 2017 }}
{{cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Nash |date=22 September 2015 |title=A Chinese Jet Performed an 'Unsafe' Move Near a U.S. Spy Plane |url=http://time.com/4045740/china-plane-united-states-intercept-rc135/ | work=Time |location=New York City |access-date=8 March 2017 }} Due to the two events, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. requested helmet video cameras, such as GoPros, to be equipped to record the interactions with People's Republic of China aircraft;{{cite news |url=http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/1/us-vs-russia-on-helmet-video-cameras/ |title=U.S.-Russia helmet video gap? |last=Gertz |first=Bill |date=1 March 2017 |work=Washington Times |access-date=22 March 2017 }} Harris in reference to the August 2014 incident called it "a very dangerous event,".{{cite news |last=Gertz |first=Bill |agency=Washington Free Beacon |date=23 September 2015 |title=A Chinese jet nearly collided with a US spy plane |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/a-chinese-jet-nearly-collided-with-a-us-spy-plane-2015-9?pundits_only=0&get_all_comments=1&no_reply_filter=1 | work=Business Insider |access-date=22 March 2017 }}

Following the intercept of the RC-135 intercept, the two nations agreed to the "Annex of the Rules of Behavior for Air-to-Air Encounters."; however American Senator John McCain criticized the timing of the September 2015 intercept, and that the numerous events "raises further questions about China's intentions".{{cite news |last=Tiezzi |first=Shannon |date=26 September 2011 |title=No More Dangerous Intercepts for US, China Miltary Aircraft? |url=http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/no-more-dangerous-intercepts-for-us-china-miltary-aircraft/ | work=The Diplomat |location= |access-date=22 March 2017 }} In May 2016, the United States reported of an "unsafe" intercept by Chinese aircraft of a EP-3E, coming to within 50 feet of the EP-3E.{{cite news |last=Crawford |first=Jamie |date=19 May 2016 |title=Pentagon: 'Unsafe' intercept over South China Sea |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/18/politics/pentagon-south-china-sea-intercept/ | work=CNN |location=Atlanta, Georgia |access-date=8 March 2017 }}
{{cite news |author= |title=Chinese jets intercept US spy plane over South China Sea, Pentagon says |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36328464 | work=BBC News |location=United Kingdom |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=8 March 2017 }} This event was called "reminiscent" to the August 2014 intercept by Bloomberg.{{cite news |last=Tweed |first=David |date=19 May 2016 |title=Chinese Fighters Intercept U.S. Plane Over South China Sea |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-19/two-chinese-fighters-intercept-u-s-plane-over-south-china-sea | work=Bloomberg |location=New York City |access-date=8 March 2017 }} People's Republic of China denied that the intercept was "unsafe", and called for the end of U.S. flights in what it called "Chinese coastal waters"; the intercept in 2016 came days before the 42nd G7 summit.{{cite news |last=Ali |first=Indrees |last2=Rajagopalan |first2=Megha |date=19 May 2016 |title=China demands end to U.S. surveillance after aircraft intercept |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-china-usa-idUSKCN0YA0QX | agency=Reuters |access-date=8 March 2017 }}
{{cite news |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=19 May 2016 |title=China Contests Pentagon Account of ‘Unsafe’ Intercept of U.S. Navy Surveillance Plane by PLA Fighter |url=https://news.usni.org/2016/05/19/china-contests-pentagon-account-unsafe-intercept-u-s-navy-surveillance-plane-pla-fighters | work=USNI News |location=Maryland |access-date=8 March 2017 }} Intercepts continued well into 2017, which included an interecept of a P-3C, by a KJ-200, in February 2017.{{cite book|author1=James Kraska|author2=Raul Pedrozo|title=The Free Sea: The American Fight for Freedom of Navigation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4pcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36|date=15 June 2018|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-68247-117-3|page=36}} Due to the increase of intercepts by Chinese aircraft of American surveillance aircraft, the aircraft have been equipped with photography equipment for documenting the intercepts.{{cite news |last=Freedberg Jr. |first=Sydney J, |date=19 May 2016 |title=PACOM Presses To Film China’s Reckless Pilots From P-3s, P-8s |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2016/05/chinas-reckless-pilots-on-film-pics-or-it-didnt-happen-off-hainan/ |work=Breaking Defense |location= |access-date=1 December 2018 }}

These events were seen by the Pentagon as continued efforts by China to challenge United States dominance.{{cite news |agency=Reuters |date=23 June 2015 |title=China Is Challenging Superiority of U.S. Air Power: Pentagon |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/china-challenging-superiority-u-s-air-power-pentagon-n380096 |work=NBC News |location= |access-date=1 December 2018 }}
{{cite report |last=O'Rourke |first=Ronald |date=1 August 2018 |title=China’s Actions in South and East China Seas: Implications for U.S. Interests—Background and Issues for Congress |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42784.pdf |publisher=Congressional Research Service |via=Federation of American Scientists |page= |docket= |access-date=1 December 2018 |quote= }}

• China–United States relations
• Hainan Island incident

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