US warships and planes carried out over 2,000 close spying missions aimed at China this year as the rivalry between the two countries heightened, a PLA researcher has claimed, asserting that the high frequency of such close reconnaissance endangers the country’s sovereign security which will “undoubtedly increase the risk of gunfire”.
The targets of these missions included the Chinese controlled islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea (SCS) as well as the coastal area of the Chinese mainland, Cao Yanzhong, a researcher with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Science, has told an annual Chinese military conference.
“The high frequency of such close reconnaissance endangers China’s sovereign security and heightens regional tensions, which will inevitably trigger firm opposition from China and undoubtedly increase the risk of gunfire,” Cao told a panel at the 10th Xiangshan Forum, an annual Chinese military conference.
