US Conducted 589 ‘Spy Flights’ Over South China Sea In 2022

SCSPI says its data on US close-in reconnaissance activities near China might be only part of the picture because not all aircraft have their transponders turned on. Photo: US Air Force  

SCMP: US spy planes edge closer to China’s shores in 2022: think tank 

* South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative says the US again sent hundreds of large aircraft for close-in activities over the South China Sea this year 

* Chinese military magazine suggests PLA must strengthen the deployment of drones and the development of home-grown transport aircraft

China faced a growing threat of close-in reconnaissance in 2022, especially from the United States, with a sustained number of flights conducted nearer to Chinese shores, according to a Beijing-based think tank. 

The US sent 589 large warplanes from January to November to conduct close-in intelligence gathering over the South China Sea alone, according to data from the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI). 

While flight data for December is not yet available, the US dispatched 47 large reconnaissance aircraft to patrol the South China Sea region in December last year, according to the SCSPI.  

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Update: US Conducted 589 ‘Spy Flights’ Over South China Sea In 2022; Recon Missions Getting Close To Chinese Coasts! (EurAsian Times)  

WNU Editor: Expect more "spy flights" in 2023 as tensions and talk of war increases .... War between the US and China - with Australia as a strategically vital ally - is not only possible but highly likely in 2023 (SKY News).