Russia: US 'will respond to any recklessness' says Blinken
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The
MiG-31 fighter escorted the US Air Force RC-135 strategic
reconnaissance aircraft over the Chukchi Sea, in the eastern border of
Russia. The Chukchi Sea is a body of water between the Arctic Ocean and
the Bering Strait which separates Alaska from Russia.
Russia's
National Defense Control Center said in a statement the jet was
scrambled to "identify the air target and prevent violation of the
border of the Russian Federation".
A statement to the Russian new
agency read: "The flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in
strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace."
Over recent weeks, Moscow has intercepted a number of US aircraft.
Last
month, Russia's Defense Ministry released footage of a MiG-31 jet
accompanying an RC-135 aircraft over the coast of Kamchatka in the far
east of Russia.
Vladimir Putin launches jet to escort US plane (Image: Getty)
The MiG-31 fighter escorted a US aircraft (Image: Getty)
Days earlier, a Russian MiG-31 fighter plane escorted the same kind of US reconnaissance aircraft over the Pacific Ocean.
Moscow
has previously warned the increased reconnaissance activities near
Russia posed a risk of rising tensions between the Kremlin and
Washington amid concerns over a growing conflict in Ukraine.
Tensions
between Moscow and Ukraine have escalated following a build-up of
Russian troops along the border and clashes in eastern Ukraine between
the army and pro-Russian separatists.
Earlier today, US Secretary
of State Antony Blinken called for Russia to cease all "reckless and
aggressive actions" towards Ukraine.
"We are aware that Russia
has withdrawn some forces from the border... but we also see that
significant forces remain there [and] significant equipment remains
there," Mr Blinken said.
According to reports, British warships
will sail for the Black Sea last month in a bid to show solidarity with
Ukraine and Britain's NATO allies.
The Sunday Times reported one
Type 45 destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles and an
anti-submarine Type 23 frigate will leave the Royal Navy's carrier task
group.
RAF F-35B Lightning stealth jets and Merlin submarine-hunting helicopters will also stand ready on HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Jersey: French boats arrive for post-Brexit fisheries protest
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Following
a French minister threatening to cut off Jersey’s electricity over
access to British fishing zones post-Brexit, the Royal Navy has
dispatched two vessels to “monitor” the situation. French fishers are
also threatening to blockade ports, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson
calling for an "urgent need for de-escalation in tensions".
Mr Johnson ordered the
dispatch of two Royal Navy river-class patrol boats, HMS Severn and HMS
Tamar, to protect Jersey from the potential blockade.
The
Prime Minister ordered the deployment after a talk on Wednesday with
the chief minister of the British crown dependency, John Le Fondré, who
had warned Downing Street of imminent movements by French fishing boats
to cut off the island’s main port.
A Downing Street
spokesperson said: “This evening the Prime Minister spoke to the Chief
Minister of Jersey and the Minister of External Affairs, Ian Gorst,
about the prospect of a blockade of Saint Helier.
“The
Prime Minister and Chief Minister stressed the urgent need for a
de-escalation in tensions and for dialogue between Jersey and France on
fishing access.”
But
in response to the Royal Navy’s deployment, Twitter users were sent
into a frenzy over what could become a ‘war with France’.
Some mocked the suggestion Britain could go to war with France over fishing rights, with one saying: “Once more into the Brie!"
Another
posted a picture of a sandcastle and said: “I’m keeping an eye on the
Spanish now just in case they're building an armada on the sly…”
One more said: “What are the rules about going to war with France if they are still on the Red Travel list?
“Can I still use my EHIC card if I get injured on the battlefield?”
Some users mocked the suggestion, while others voiced concerns over a potential conflict (Image: GETTY)
Other social media users were furious at Mr Johnson for the Royal Navy deployment.
One said: “Just a polite reminder to the Royal Navy that France is a NATO ally, cheers.“
Another
added: “I knew Brexit was supposed to take us back to ‘the old Britain’
but I didn't think it'd go as far back as war with France.”
Some
pointed out the timing of the announcement ahead of Thursday’s
elections, and one user added: “As far as last minute political
inducements to a party's voter base, war with France is going to be a
tough one to top.”
Another jokingly said the UK was back to the 17th century, saying: “First we have a plague. Now we're at war with France!”
Jersey,
at the centre of Britain and France’s row over fishing, introduced a
new licensing system for French fishing boats, which requires them to
show a history of fishing in its waters.
Annick
Girardin, France's Seas Minister, said she was “disgusted" to learn that
Jersey had issued 41 licences with unilaterally imposed conditions,
including the time French fishing vessels could spend in its waters.
Ms
Girardin told France's National Assembly on Tuesday: "In the (Brexit)
deal there are retaliatory measures. Well, we're ready to use them.
“Regarding Jersey, I remind you of the delivery of electricity along underwater cables.
"Even if it would be regrettable if we had to do it, we'll do it if we have to."
Boris Johnson called for an ‘urgent need for de-escalation in tensions’ (Image: PA)
Jersey waters are exclusive fishing zones after the UK left the EU (Image: EXPRESS)
In response, a UK Government spokesman blasted Ms Girardin for her incendiary comments.
They said: “To threaten Jersey like this is clearly unacceptable and disproportionate.
“We
are working closely with the EU and Jersey on fisheries access
provisions following the end of the transition period so trust the
French will use the mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems."
Don
Thompson, head of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, also said: “It
was inevitable that the French would kick off, but the reaction we’re
seeing from France is almost like something you would see from Iran or
Russia.
“They’re not just saying they can cut off the
electricity supply, French fishermen are saying that they’re coming
tomorrow [Thursday] to blockade the harbour in time to stop the ferries
from coming in so there’ll be no food supply and no fuel coming into the
island either.
“So it comes pretty close to an act of war, this.”
Philippines to take action against China amid sea tension
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The Chinese
fishing moratorium, which takes effect over the summer from May 1 to
August 16, has been ongoing since 1999. The embargo normally prevents
fishermen from over exploiting fish resources, particularly squid, in
the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
In a statement on Tuesday,
the Philippines’ South China Sea task force said it would not obey the
rules of the embargo where it fell in Filipino waters.
“This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen,” the task force said.
It added: “Our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the WPS (West Philippine Sea).”
Philippines' South China Sea task force said: 'This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen' (Image: Getty Images )
For years, Manila has been wrapped up in a dispute with Beijing over China’s sweeping sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
Tensions
between the nations reached a critical height after Manila accused
China of harbouring a “maritime militia” on board hundreds of “illegal”
vessels that have been anchored at the Whitsun reef since early March.
In response to the allegations, China claimed the boats were just sheltering from rough seas and no militia were aboard.
The
South China Sea task force added that on April 27, seven more Chinese
vessels believed by Manila to be harbouring “Chinese maritime militia”
at the Sabina shoal in the Spratly archipelago were dispersed by the
Philippine coast guard.
Chinese vessels anchor in preparation for fishing moratorium (Image: Getty images)
South China Sea mapped (Image: Express)
The Sabina shoal is around 240km from the western Philippine island of Palawan.
In
its statement on Wednesday, the task force said: “The Philippines is
not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony, and our
dignity as a people with all that we have.”
Philippines’ Secretary
of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Loscin Jr, demanded China’s vessels leave
the nation’s waters in a Twitter post on Monday.
He said: “China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see, get the **** out.”
The task force encouraged it's fisherman to ignore the moratorium (Image: Getty Images)
In March over 200 ships anchored in the Whitsun Reef (Image: Getty Images)
He
added: “What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We're
trying. You. You're like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a
handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese
province.”
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