According to CNN, US defense official says Chinese air force land-attack, cruise-missile-capable bombers were put “on high alert” on Wednesday as the US sees evidence that the Chinese military is preparing to respond to a potential situation in North Korea.
The official said the US has also seen an extraordinary number of Chinese military aircraft being brought up to full readiness through intensified maintenance. These recent steps by the Chinese are assessed as part of an effort to “reduce the time to react to a North Korea contingency.m”
Lu Kang, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said Friday that he was “aware of the relevant reports” of a heightened alert in the Chinese Air Force, but said he has “no information to give.” Such a contingency could include the risk of an armed conflict breaking out as tensions on the peninsula have increased in the wake of multiple North Korean missile tests.
Pyongyang state media warned Thursday that a pre-emptive strike by North Korea would result in the US and South Korea being “completely destroyed in an instant.”
It’s estimated that some 85% of North Korea’s economic trade is dependent on China. Given those close economic links, US military officials have said that Beijing is critical to solving the North Korean situation.
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