Will China Try To Salvage A Crashed US F-35C Fighter Jet?

Sailors taxi an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the 'Argonauts' of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on January 22

Daily Mail: China might claim salvage rights to crashed US F-35 stealth jet by calling it an 'environmental hazard': US recovery vessels are two weeks away from crash site in South China Sea and could take four MONTHS to retrieve it

* The USS Carl Vinson on Monday suffered a 'landing mishap' with F-35C warplane

* The Navy said the stealth fighter 'subsequently fell to the water'

* Recovery efforts could pose a problem if Beijing acts on its territorial claims to a vast majority of the South China sea

* China could claim it was 'recovering a potential environmental hazard or foreign military equipment from its territorial waters,' a retired Navy officer said

* One geopolitics expert doubted that Beijing would take the political risk to run afoul of the United States to recover the jet

* DailyMail.com has reached out to the Navy for an update to the search on Weds

* It is packed with the latest technology and advances in radar-deflecting design

* The ship is currently in the South China Sea, taking part in exercises

A retired military official is warning on Wednesday that China could claim salvage rights to an F-35 stealth fighter jet that crashed into the South China Sea earlier this week.

Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, told CNN that China's likely game plan will be to capitalize on its territorial claims in the South China Sea and claim it's salvaging the craft for environmental purposes.

'Salvaging the plane with commercial and coast guard assets will enable Beijing to claim it is recovering a potential environmental hazard or foreign military equipment from its territorial waters,' the former Navy captain said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I suspect there will be a US warship near the crash site to make sure the Chinese (or anyone else) do not try a salvage operation.

But if China does try to mount a salvage operation in waters that they claim are their own, a ballsy move if you ask me, a part of me doubts the U.S. will try to stop them.

More News On U.S. Efforts To Salvage A Crashed F-35C In the South China Sea

U.S. Navy working to recover F-35 warplane that fell into the South China Sea -- CNBC/Reuters

Navy to salvage stealth F-35 that crashed on carrier landing in South China Sea -- ABC News

U.S. Navy says it will recover F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South China Sea -- UPI

US Navy races to recover crashed F-35 fighter jet in South China Sea – fifth mishap on ship in three months -- FOX News

Navy to salvage stealth fighter that crashed in South China Sea -- The Hill

Navy searching for downed F-35 in South China Sea -- Washington Examiner

US Navy tries to salvage fighter jet that fell into South China Sea -- DW

As U.S. Navy salvages crashed jet, China will be watching closely: analysts -- CTV News/CNN

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