The war in Ukraine entered a new phase in February 2023. Ukrainian troops have since dug down as they expect a Russian counter-offensive anytime. With the war in Ukraine, another country had seemingly tried to challenge the US global hegemony.
Leaked US Air Force Air Mobility Command Memo
US media recently published a leaked memo by a top US Air Force General. General Mike Minahan of the US Air Force Air Mobility Command had spelt out his 'gut feeling' that a war with China is inevitable in 2025. He implored the airmen and airwomen under his command to prepare for an all-out war against China and even advised them to update their wills.
Some of the more hawkish sections of the US sphere have touted the leaked memo as evidence that China is a threat to the United States. However, not all are convinced. Other sections of the US military community are in view that a general who is responsible for the support function has no business to comment about combat function.
A retired US Army Captain with a degree in International Relations and a former officer with the Department of Homeland Security criticised the general's use of 'gut feeling'. You can see the video below.
Video by a former combat veteran from the US who criticised the leaked memo. Video credit: Combat Veteran Reacts
Shooting Down of a Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon over US
A Chinese balloon had flown into the continental US and Canadian airspace in late January. US media later reported on the balloon entering US airspace without permission and speculated that it was a spy balloon. Chinese government officials countered the allegation and claimed that the balloon was a meteorological balloon. They conceded that they had lost control of the balloon.
Initially, the US military had shown a muted response. They were seen not taking any action against the balloon as it made its way across the United States.
'Meteorological Balloon'
The Chinese government's claim that the balloon was a meteorological balloon seemed plausible as the platform attached to the balloon seemed to be full of sensors. However, the same sensors observed could also be sensors for ISR. ISR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.
The Chinese government officials contend that they had lost control of the balloon. However, US military Northern Air Defence Sector or NORAD detected that the balloon had flown changed path several times. They note that the balloon seems more likely to be a blimp with thrusters that can change its flight path. The balloon has flown over strategic US military facilities (nuclear silo sites in Montana, US 82nd Airborne Division base in Northern Carolina).
Shooting Down
On Sunday, 5th February, as the balloon was leaving the continental US mainland, a USAF F22 Raptor shot it down using an AIM9 Sidewinder short range air-to-air missile. Currently, US Navy vessels have initiated a recovery mission to recover the wreckage.
At the moment of writing, the balloon has since been shot down by a USAF F22 Raptor using a Sidewinder air-to-air missile over the Pacific Ocean. It was shot down after leaving US continental mainland in an area which had been cleared from both civilian airline traffic and presumably surface vessels.
US President Joe Biden later announced that he had authorised the downing of the balloon in January. But the military sought to bring it down over the sea, away from any populated area. Falling into the sea within US territorial waters, the recovery of the balloon is currently underway. The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had since cancelled his plan to fly to Beijing on Friday, signalling worsening relations.
Attempts to Test US Air Defence
The Combat Veteran React channel claimed that the deployment of the balloon is likely to test the US air defence reaction. The balloon could have also collected sensitive Signal Intelligence (SIGINT).
Combat Veteran React video on this matter. He shared his insight not only from his stint in the US military, but also as a former DHS officer. DHS is the Department of Home Security, not too dissimilar to our Kementerian Dalam Negeri.
A former F14 Tomcat pilot Ward Carroll cited that the balloon was the fourth balloon of similar nature that was detected entering the US airspace. Ward claimed that at least one balloon had entered Latin America (LATAM) airspace. AFP also reported the same information. (France 24)
Ward Carroll explained the issue from the view of a former USN pilot.
First Air-to-Air Kill Over Continental American airspace
C.W. Lemoine pointed out that the air-to-air kill by the Raptor is the first in its operational history. It was also the first air-to-air kill in the continental US.
Channel by C.W. Lemoine on the significance of the shooting down of the balloon from the military perspective, i.e. as the first air-to-air kill for the F22 and the first air-to-air kill over the continental US.
Beijing's Reaction
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) has since reported that Beijing was infuriated by the downing of the spy balloon. They have vowed to take similar actions if they face similar circumstances.
While the Chinese government did not specify what they meant by similar circumstances, they may have referred to US military patrol into disputed waters in the South China Sea.
In 2001, a USN PC3 Orion had clipped the wing of a PLA - Navy J8 interceptor near Hainan Island. The Chinese Navy jet crashed into the sea, with the pilot was never found. The PC3 Orion managed to land in Chinese territory, sparking a diplomatic dispute.
Reminiscent of the Cold War Era
This incident is reminiscent of the Cold War era when the US had frequently sent SR71 spy planes to adversary nations. At the height of the Cold War, the USSR had shot down 2 Korean Air Line jets. The USSR had incorrectly identified them as spy planes. 2 people lost their lives in the KAL902 incident. Another 269 lost their lives in the KAL007 incident.
Cold War 2.0
Regardless of the outcome of the events, one thing is for sure. We are now back in an open Cold War 2.0.
Danny Liew is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
