There was a lot of guesswork this weekend about the flight movements of several Chinese military jets that flew over Turkey and Bulgaria before finally landing in Serbia. The six Xian Y-20 transport aircraft did not only arouse the interest of plane spotters. What kind of secret transport had taken place here? Several media unanimously reported that these were medium-range missiles.
The wildest rumors were circulating on social media. For example, some of the six cargo planes flew “unusual” zigzag lines, which can be observed when paratroopers are dropped. China’s preparations for possible major maneuvers together with Russia or Serbia have already been written – without official confirmations of course. Neither Beijing nor Belgrade has confirmed the missile delivery. However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said over the weekend that he would present the “latest pride” of his army to the public on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Previously, Vucic had repeatedly complained that NATO countries would refuse to grant overflight rights for military transport from China. The pressure from Washington was also great. The Serbian government has been advised to rely on Western missiles and defense systems if it really wants to join the EU. However, the Xian Y-20s were allowed to fly over both Turkey and Bulgaria on Saturday.
Fear of destabilizing the Balkans
Observers warn that the build-up of Serbia by China and Russia, with whom the country has good relations, could destabilize the security situation in the Balkans. Neither Serbia nor China have joined the Western sanctions against Russia. the Serbian Military analyst Aleksandar Radic told Al Jazeera Balkans that the transport was also a “show of Chinese power”. The well-delivered HQ-22 missiles are comparable to the American “Patriot” missiles or the Russian S-300.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
