Chinese jet over Saudi port stirs tension with USS Truman nearby
A Chinese fighter jet was spotted near the port in Saudi Arabia. The American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is stationed nearby. The port in Yanbu is significant for both military and religious reasons as it guards the entrance to the Muslim holy city of Medina.
Photographs captured a J-10C fighter jet from China flying at a low altitude near the King Fahd Port in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Units of the United States Navy, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, are stationed at the port.
The port holds significant religious importance for the residents of Saudi Arabia and all Muslims, guarding the entrance to Medina, a holy city of Islam. Additionally, it serves as a key logistical point in the Middle East.
Photos allegedly showing Chinese fighter jets flying over the area were shared on social media. Satellite maps also highlighted points where combat aircraft were reportedly flying through the region.
The Chinese defense ministry categorically denied that the J-10C fighters belong to the People's Republic of China's army. They also denied sending their aircraft to Egypt. Western military agencies suggest that Beijing plans to sell Egypt a substantial amount of military equipment, including these fighters.
The approximately 6,000-kilometre flight aimed to verify the aircraft's capabilities. Defence Security Asia reports that the presence of the fighters in Egypt was confirmed by footage aired by the Chinese television station CCTV. The Americans are frustrated with the Egyptian authorities, feeling that negotiations to purchase equipment from China represent "a betrayal of a long-standing ally."
