US Air Force RC-135S planes last month disguised themselves as civilian aircraft, according to a Beijing think tank. Photo: Handout SCMP:US sent 60 spy planes close to China in September: Beijing think tank * Marked rise in flights in Yellow Sea region between China and Korean peninsula, according to Chinese government-backed body * Increase in air refuelling may suggest United States is preparing for future long-distance missions in the South China Sea, it says At least 60 American warplanes conducted close-up reconnaissance flights near China in September and the US may be preparing for future long-distance missions in the South China Sea, according to a think tank in Beijing. Among the 60 warplanes recorded, 41 flew over the disputed South China Sea, six over the East China Sea and, further north, 13 over the Yellow Sea, the Chinese government-backed South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said in a report released on Monday. The report said air refuelling activities had shown an uptick last month, possibly suggesting the United States was preparing for future long-distance attacks against targets in the South China Sea. It said several air refuelling aircraft sent to add fuel to the surveillance planes over the South China Sea had departed from the US’ military base in its western Pacific island territory of Guam. Read more .... WNU Editor: Only 60?
