Offering assistance to the United States after two US Navy aircraft-an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter-crashed in the South China Sea on Sunday, China said it is ready to provide help if requested by Washington.
According to the Global Times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that Beijing had “taken note of the relevant reports.”
Jiakun added, “If the US side makes a request, China is willing to provide necessary assistance from a humanitarian perspective.”
Further, Guo called the increase in US warships and aircraft in the South China Sea a flex and said that it is “the root cause of maritime security issues.”
The Spokesperson said, “The frequent dispatch of US warships and military aircraft to the South China Sea to flex its muscles is the root cause of maritime security issues and undermines regional peace and stability, ” as per the Global Times.
According to the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, the incidents took place on Sunday during separate routine operations over the disputed waters. “All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation,” the statement said.
At around 2:45 pm local time, a US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down in the waters of the South China Sea while conducting operations. Search and rescue teams from Carrier Strike Group 11 recovered all three crew members safely.
Roughly half an hour later, at 3:15 pm, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 also crashed during operations from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Both pilots ejected safely and were recovered by rescue teams.
Parts of the South China Sea are claimed by multiple countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway and has built military installations across several islands, often defying international rulings.
Over the years, the US Navy has conducted regular freedom-of-navigation operations in the region as part of Washington’s broader strategy to counter Beijing’s maritime expansion.
