"The Chinese and Russian Air Force is increasingly aggressive. We continue to intercept their bombers near the west coast of the United States, these provocations constantly worry us ”. This is what General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, who leads theAir Combat Command, in an interview with USA Today.
"We fear a resurgent Russia and a very, very aggressive China".
According to General Carlisle, Russian and Chinese strategies are all too clear. Both, according to the senior official, aim to expand their spheres of influence.
"Russia in Eastern Europe and the Pacific, China disputed on the South China Sea: their intent is to influence international spaces. We cannot allow this to happen. We must continue to operate legally in airspace and international waters. We must continue to be present to combat aggressive and dangerous attitudes. When you play cat with mouse, you risk a war. "
United States and Russia, have always "played" with the cat with the mouse. Periodically, US fighters intercept Russian bombers and vice versa. Such "meetings", at least officially, have never led to a real confrontation. To assume, however, a certain US victory in the event of an air crash, would be too presumptuous. If, for example, an aerial skirmish were to occur on the South China Sea, US forces would still operate thousands of miles from the first base on the ground, while the Chinese would always be supported.
The Pentagon continues to report wiretapping, calling them dangerous. The US challenges the Chinese on the sea and the Russians with spy aircraft close to their borders. Beijing responds with grazing passes close to US carriers, while Moscow has resumed sending long-range bombers to eastern Europe and off the coast of West Coast American.
THEAir Command expects the Chinese to soon establish a Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea. Beijing has established an ADIZ, unilaterally, in the East China Sea in the 2013.
Maintaining communication with the Russian and Chinese military is the key to avoiding setbacks - concluded Carlisle - as they become more aggressive, there is the risk of a calculation error. No one knows where it could take us.
(photo: MoD UK)
