In a sign that the crisis generated by Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was to be expected, the United States moved 20% of its B-2 radar stealth bomber fleet to a base in Australia, more than halving the time they can reach China.
At least four B-2s, according to an analysis of satellite images by The War Zone website, are at the Australian base at Amberley. The US Air Force said in a statement that they arrived between July 10 and 12 and will stay there until the end of August.
Pelosi’s trip only began to be speculated in the American press shortly after that, at the end of July, and effectively took place on Tuesday (3) and Wednesday (4), generating a strong Chinese reaction, now demonstrated with military exercises that simulate the blockade. and an attack on the island that Beijing considers its own.
The B-2s have already passed through Australia, but it is the first time that they are part of the so-called Bomber Task Force in the country, one of China’s main rivals, a member of the Quad group (with the US, India and Japan) and a military ally. of the US in the Aukus pact with the UK. They have been seen training with Australian fighter jets.
From there, the planes have limited autonomy to get close to the Taiwan region and return without aerial refueling. From its original base, Whiteman in Missouri (USA), the distance is double —12 thousand km. The Task Force is an American attack outpost, deployed by the country’s overseas territories, such as the Pacific island of Guam, or allies.
The B-2 Spirit is one of the spearheads of the US nuclear deterrent, capable of carrying missiles with nuclear or conventional warheads. It is popularly known as an invisible bomber because it uses technologies that make it difficult to detect, such as the design in the form of a flying wing and the use of materials that absorb radar waves.
It is evident that the US does not intend to use its B-2s, and they are not armed with nuclear bombs, given Australian restrictions. But the displacement is symbolic and indicates that preparations for the crisis were already underway.
The State Department itself leaked information to journalists that Chinese diplomats were alerted last month to Pelosi’s intention, which Beijing did not confirm. In addition to the B-2s, last week the US moved the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which is based in Japan, to the South China Sea.
From that contested region, he headed for the west coast of the Philippines, last known position and close to Taiwan and Chinese military exercises. Two amphibious assault ships, the USS America and the USS Tripoli, also sail nearby, and this Thursday (4) a P-8 Poseidon spy plane flew along the south coast of the island as the Chinese made their first shots in the maneuvers.
All this leads to fears, among analysts, not that there will be a war between the US and China over Taiwan, but that there could be an accident. In 2001, a Chinese fighter jet crashed after hitting an American P-3 Orion spy plane in the South China Sea, creating a diplomatic crisis.
The alleged fall of five Chinese missiles in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, which was the subject of a protest this Thursday by Tokyo, also illustrates the risks of these exercises.
