Awkward! At the time of Trump's first visit to Asia after returning to the White House, two U.S. military aircraft crashed in the South China Sea successively: only half an hour apart, the cause remains a mystery.

On October 26, two aircraft from the U.S. aircraft carrier "Nimitz" crashed in the South China Sea successively, only half an hour apart. Although five crew members were successfully rescued without casualties, this accident occurred at a sensitive moment, putting Trump in an awkward situation as he was about to start his first visit to Asia after returning to the White House.

According to foreign media reports, around 2:45 p.m. that day, one MH-60R "Seahawk" helicopter fell into the sea during routine operations. Half an hour later, another Boeing F/A-18F "Super Hornet" fighter jet also fell into the South China Sea while carrying out missions on the aircraft carrier. The U.S. military merely mentioned briefly that "the cause of the accident is under investigation," without revealing more details.

The timing and location of this incident are highly sensitive: the day of the incident, Chinese and American representatives had just finished a two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Trump was boarding Air Force One to begin his first visit to Asia after returning to the White House; and U.S. Defense Secretary Austin was about to embark on a visit to several Asian countries. Moreover, the South China Sea itself has been continuously tense, and the successive crashes of military aircraft at this time appear even more abrupt.

It is worth noting that frequent accidents within the U.S. military are not isolated cases. Earlier this year, two aircraft from the "Harry S. Truman" aircraft carrier fell into the Red Sea while carrying out missions in the Middle East. This may be closely related to the aging of U.S. weapons and equipment and insufficient maintenance and support. Accidents occurring at sensitive moments not only expose the shortcomings of the U.S. military, but also greatly reduce its attempt to demonstrate deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region, casting an awkward shadow over Trump's visit to Asia.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847106130512899/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.