Nuclear stealth bombers fly over the Pacific in a defiant show of American airpower amid mounting tensions with China.
The two US B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and four F/A-18 Hornet Fighters were pictured alongside an Australian E-7A Wedgetail spy plane.
Pacific Air Forces described the exercise as ‘bilateral training missions’, allowing them to ‘respond to any potential crisis’.
Two US B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and four F/A-18 Hornet Fighters were pictured over the Pacific Ocean alongside an Australian E-7A Wedgetail spy plane
Pacific Air Forces described the exercise as ‘bilateral training missions’, allowing them to ‘respond to any potential crisis’
The B-2 flying wing – the world’s most expensive aircraft at an estimated £1.6billion – is virtually invisible to radar.
On Tuesday the US tested a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.
China has deployed planes and fired live missiles in the Taiwan Strait following US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
On Monday five US congressmen also visited, leading China to condemn ‘provocations’.
The B-2 flying wing – the world’s most expensive aircraft at an estimated £1.6billion – is virtually invisible to radar
On Monday five US congressmen also visited, leading China to condemn ‘provocations’
The Defence Ministry denounced Pelosi’s trip as an ‘ambush visit’ which ‘violates China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’.
Analysts fear Beijing could use claims of ‘provocation’ as an excuse to invade Taiwan, which it claims as its own.
China has never renounced using force to bring it under its control.
The Chinese Defence Ministry denounced Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan as an ‘ambush visit’ which ‘violates China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’. Pictured: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, and Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Tsai Chi-chang arrive for a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan
The Chinese Embassy in Washington criticised the visit, and said it would take ‘resolute countermeasures in response to the US’s provocations.’
Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said on Twitter: ‘Members of the US Congress should act in consistence with the US government’s one-China policy.’
President Joe Biden’s administration has said that it would continue to carry out routine air and naval operations in the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks.