Chinese jet near Saudian port sparks international tension
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 not only for military reasons but also because it guards the entrance to the Muslim holy city of Medina.
A J-10C fighter jet from China was photographed 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.
For the residents of Saudi Arabia and all Muslims, the port is an important religious site. It guards the entrance to Medina, a holy city of Islam. It also serves as a crucial logistical point in the Middle East.
Photos purportedly showing Chinese fighter jets flying over were shared on social media. Satellite maps also highlighted points where combat aircraft were alleged to be flying over.
The Chinese defence ministry categorically denied that the J-10C fighters belong to the People's Republic of China's army. The Chinese also denied sending their aircraft to Egypt. Western military agencies indicate that Beijing plans to sell Egypt a significant amount of military equipment, including the mentioned fighters.
The 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 broadcast by the Chinese television station CCTV. Americans are frustrated with the Egyptian authorities, believing that negotiations to purchase equipment from China are "a betrayal of a long-standing ally."
