Beijing

US Violates “Defense Zone” After Chinese Threat to Shoot Down Aircraft

US Violates “Defense Zone” After Chinese Threat to Shoot Down Aircraft

Asia on the verge of a full blown arms race

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
November 26, 2013

In a move designed to challenge China’s “air defense zone,” the US flew two B-52 Bombers over disputed islands in the East China Sea just days after Beijing implicitly threatened to shoot down aircraft entering the area.

Over the weekend, China released a map which included the clustered Senkaku islands and warned that all aircraft entering the zone must immediately identify themselves to Chinese authorities and face “emergency military measures.”

However, the US flew two B-52 bombers through the zone during a training mission today without notifying Beijing. There was no response from China. In conducting the mission, the Pentagon followed through on its promise that US pilots would not switch on their transponders and would defend themselves if attacked.

“We have continued to follow our normal procedures, which include not filing flight plans, not radioing ahead and not registering our frequencies,” said US Colonel Steve Warren.

Although the B-52 flyover was part of a pre-planned exercise, it has been characterized as a clear act of defiance against China’s territorial claims.

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Beijing shuts down highways, airport in fight against smog

Beijing shuts down highways, airport in fight against smog

The Chinese government is desperately trying a variety of methods to reduce its capital city’s heavy layers of air pollution. Pollution taxes, urging residents to stay indoors, government support for EVs and limited license plate registrations have all been used. This month, things have gotten serious. Bloomberg reports that highways and airports in Beijing were closed down for a week to reduce heavy pollution. Police closed off the six expressways that link Beijing to Shanghai, Tianjin and Harbin. Forty seven flights at the Beijing Capital International Airport were affected by the closures. The roads and airports were reopened on October 7.

Air quality index readings at half of Beijing’s urban areas had fallen below 200 on October 7; that’s the index level dividing medium and heavy pollution. A yellow alert had been lifted that morning, which meant that visibility was expected to improve. Light rain was expected to fall that night, which should help air pollutants dissipate more easily. It’s not just a health issue, as air pollution has been causing social unrest in China. Premier Li Keqiang has committed to reducing smog by cutting coal consumption, shutting down steel plants and placing limits on the number of cars on the road.

China plans to build a nationwide network within the next three to five years to study the impact of smog on the health of vulnerable groups and will study related diseases, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Forty three monitoring spots will be established in 16 provinces and municipalities that are frequently buried in smog.