China has accused the United States of sending a US U-2 reconnaissance plane into a no-fly zone on Tuesday, further ratcheting up tensions between the world’s two major powers.
China’s Defence Ministry said the U-2 flew without permission over a no-fly zone where live-fire drills were taking place. This could easily have caused a misunderstanding or misjudgment or an “unexpected incident.”
“It was an act of naked provocation, and China is resolutely opposed to it, and have already lodged stern representations with the US side,” the Chinese side stated.
However, the U.S. military said a U-2 flight was within the “accepted international rules and regulations.”
It should be noted that relations between the US and China have worsened on several fronts, from trade and human rights to what Washington sees as aggressive moves by China, particularly in the disputed South China Sea (SCS).
