Turkish sources said the Chinese Air Force sent several Russian-origin
Su-27 fighter-jets to participate in the semi-annual Anatolian Eagle air
combat exercise. They said the Chinese were invited after the United States
and other NATO members had turned down an invitation to participate in
Anatolian Eagle in the late summer of 2010.
"The United States immediately expressed its displeasure in private," a
Turkish source said.
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On Sept. 30, the Turkish daily Taraf reported the Chinese participation
in Anatolian Eagle, based in the Turkish air base in Konya. Taraf said
Washington monitored the Chinese air maneuvers and demanded an explanation
from the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.
Taraf did not identify the Chinese aircraft that flew in the exercise,
which was first held in 2001 with Israel and the United States participating. The sources said this
marked the first time that Chinese warplanes were allowed to participate in
an exercise designed
for NATO.
In 2009, Turkey banned Israel from participating in Anatolian Eagle.
Later, the United States and several NATO allies decided to reduce
participation in the exercise.
The sources said China and Turkey have sought to expand military
cooperation. The two countries have been engaged in rocket production,
including WS-1, a 302mm weapon with a range of 150 kilometers. Turkey's
state-owned Roketsan renamed the rocket TR-300 Kasirga, later acquired by
the Turkish Army.
Tim
1:26 p.m. / Saturday, October 9, 2010
Another misstep by this administration.
People around the world outsmart Obama and his team at every turn.
Why is Obama considered brilliant? I keep forgetting.
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