andy_hujian
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As much as we who are outside of the military decision making hierarchy can be, right ?
By what do you mean 'free' ?
- Physical reconnaissance: This is where overflights, which involves border violations, are necessary to determine the physical evidences of something and/or anything. For example...Are there troops at X location today ?
- Signals reconnaissance: This is where overflights are not necessary. Electromagnetic emissions, such as TV or navigation beacons, are usually omnidirectional, and those signals do go outside one's borders. A signals intelligence (SIGINT) flight can be in international airspace and gather as much EM data as fuel hold out. Further, if Chinese radars are involved, the SIGINT aircraft can collect those EM transmissions as well.
As long as our SIGINT flights are in international airspace, China have no legal foundation to do anything. But anything outside those legal boundaries, it becomes militarily provocative and the US have every right to respond to any actions by the PLAAF that would threatens the safety of our crew. Risk is a two-way street.
OK. I'll hire a contractor standing in front of your house(not on your property) waiving flashlight into your bedroom all night long.