East China Sea: A Chinese Army aviation unit under the Eastern Theater Command conducted 11 combat scrambles over a 10-day period. These maneuvers were in direct response to repeated foreign military provocations near China’s coastline, according to firsthand accounts from frontline pilot Wang Ling. The incidents underscore the increasing frequency of close encounters between Chinese forces and foreign military aircraft in contested airspace.
Pilot Wang Ling, serving with an Army aviation brigade, recounted a particularly tense episode during one of these scrambles. He described how a foreign military aircraft approached his helicopter, closing in to within 10 meters.
“At that moment, the order was to launch on a combat scramble. A foreign military aircraft was approaching our coastline,” Wang said. “The foreign aircraft suddenly banked in my direction, attempting to force me back. But when we were just 10 meters apart and I held my position, it sharply turned away in a steep climb.”
The following day, the same aircraft returned, indicating a pattern of persistent probing by foreign forces.
The Eastern Theater Command, headquartered in Nanjing, oversees operations in a region that includes the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. This area has become a hotspot for military activities, with frequent patrols and exercises conducted by both Chinese and foreign forces.
The recent scrambles by Chinese Army aviation units are part of a broader strategy to assert China’s territorial claims and respond to what it perceives as encroachments by foreign military aircraft. These actions are indicative of the PLA’s emphasis on readiness and rapid response capabilities in the face of increasing foreign military presence near its borders.
The incidents involving Wang Ling are not isolated. They occur against a backdrop of heightened military activities in the region. For instance, in May 2024, Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval, and land units on alert in response to Chinese military exercises around the island following the inauguration of a new Taiwanese president. China’s military described these exercises as a response to separatist forces seeking independence, asserting that Taiwan is part of its national territory.
Furthermore, the Eastern Theater Command has been actively conducting joint drills involving land, sea, air, and rocket forces in the vicinity of Kinmen, Matsu Islands, and the Island of Taiwan. These exercises, known as Joint Sword-2024, are aimed at testing the troops’ combat capability in joint operations.
The increased military activities have drawn international attention and concern. The United States and its allies have conducted surveillance and patrol flights in areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea, which China views as provocations. In response, the PLA has maintained a high level of vigilance and readiness to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security.
The recent series of combat scrambles by the Chinese Army aviation unit under the Eastern Theater Command highlights the ongoing tensions and the potential for miscalculations in the East China Sea region. As both China and foreign military forces continue to operate in close proximity, the risk of unintended incidents remains high. The situation underscores the need for effective communication and mechanisms to manage and de-escalate potential conflicts in contested areas.
