'Leave Immediately Or...' PLA Furiously Warns US Helicopters To Leave Its 'Airspace'

A fierce verbal exchange between a Chinese warplane and a U.S. military aircraft caught the attention of Taiwanese aviation enthusiasts Sunday when a Chinese pilot warned off a U.S. helicopter that allegedly entered its airspace.

This comes as China continued its military posturing around Taiwan with 23 People's Liberation Army (PLA) military aircraft, entering Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) Sunday. According to Taiwanese authorities, one U.S. military aircraft too entered Taiwan's ADIZ the same day, reported Taiwan News.

The U.S. military aircraft was near the east coast of China from the Taiwan Strait at 8:14 a.m. Sunday when it received a radio warning from the PLA Air Force in Mandarin. This was immediately followed by an English version: "This is the Chinese PLA Air Force. You are approaching China's territorial airspace. Leave immediately, leave immediately, or you will be intercepted."

The pilot of the U.S. aircraft could be heard responding: "I am a U.S. military aircraft conducting lawful military activities in international airspace and exercising these rights as guaranteed by international law. I am operating with due regard to the rights and duties of all states."

Ten minutes later, the PLA sounded another warning, this time with more urgency. To this, at 9:15 a.m., the pilot of the U.S. plane repeated his statement.

The PLA Air Force broadcaster calmed down the third time, but continued to warn off the plane in Mandarin. "I am the Chinese Air Force, you have entered my airspace, a serious violation of our sovereignty, leave immediately, leave immediately!"

According to Taiwanese authorities, there was one instance in which a U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk helicopter flew inside the 12-nautical mile boundary of China's territorial sea. Chinese warplanes intercepted the U.S. military aircraft and the latter eventually left Beijing's airspace.

The report said there were two instances of MH-60 Seahawks entering China's 12-nautical mile boundary on Monday too. Besides, a Japanese military aircraft was also warned by the PLA that they were coming close to China's territorial airspace.

The MH-60 Seahawks are likely from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, the USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville, which entered the Taiwan Strait on Sunday. Both warships carry two Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters.

Meanwhile, Chinese intrusions continued Monday too with Taiwan tracking 37 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval ships around the island as of 5 p.m. local time. Of these, 12 planes crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, including eight Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets in the northeast section of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and two Shenyang J-11 jet fighters.