Chinese jet buzzes US carrier near key Saudi Arabia port
A Chinese fighter jet was recently spotted near the port in Saudi Arabia, close to the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The port in Yanbu holds significance beyond its military importance, as it serves as a gateway to the Muslim holy city of Medina.
A J-10C fighter jet from China was photographed flying at a low altitude near 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 residents of Saudi Arabia and Muslims worldwide, the port is an important religious site. It not only guards the entrance to Medina, a holy city of Islam, but also functions as a vital logistical point in the Middle East.
Photos allegedly showing Chinese fighter jets flying overhead were shared on social media. Satellite maps corroborated locations where combat aircraft were reported to be flying.
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 any aircraft to Egypt. Western military agencies suggest that Beijing plans to sell Egypt a substantial amount of military equipment, including the mentioned fighters.
The 3,730-mile flight aimed to test the aircraft's capabilities. Defence Security Asia reports that the presence of Chinese fighters in Egypt was verified by footage broadcast by the Chinese television station CCTV. Americans are frustrated with the Egyptian authorities, viewing the potential purchase of equipment from China as "a betrayal of a long-standing ally."
