USA23 September, 20263 min read
Pentagon Investigates How China Obtained F-35 Parts After Hong Kong Diversion
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F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong en route from Australia to the United States. Pentagon probing how the shipment ended up in Hong Kong and whether China obtained them.
46 outlets told this the same way.
Parts diverted to Hong Kong
The Pentagon is investigating how parts of the United States’ most advanced fighter jet ended up in Hong Kong, after media reports said China obtained the F-35 equipment. The F-35 Joint Program Office said it and the Defense Department were aware of “a shipment issue” with F-35 components and that they were “actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence,” Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that the jet components ended up in Hong Kong when responding to questions from reporters Tuesday, but he denied that the missing parts were “sensitive equipment.”
The reports tied the diversion to a shipment that was unexpectedly rerouted to Hong Kong while on the way from Australia to the United States for either repair or disposal, with Bloomberg reporting that the parts included a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door. The incident prompted questions over whether China may have gained access to components of one of Washington’s most sophisticated weapons systems, with the Al Jazeera report saying there had been “no suggestion so far from US or Australian authorities that Beijing deliberately diverted the shipment or accessed the technology.”
Marles, China, and the Pentagon
Richard Marles said Australia was examining “very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end,” while he also said the issue would be managed by the United States and by Lockheed Martin. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Programme Office said it was aware of “a shipment issue” involving components from the fighter jet and was working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to recover them. China’s Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the incident, and the Hong Kong government said it would not comment on specific cases.
The CBS News report said a defense official confirmed that the F-35 Joint Program Office and Department of War were aware of “a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components.” The CNN report said Australia’s defense minister told Tuesday that F-35 fighter jet parts had been mistakenly diverted to Hong Kong, following reports US lawmakers were investigating the mishap amid concerns about the possibility of China getting access to sensitive US military technology.
Congressional scrutiny and stakes
Politico earlier reported that the incident prompted a congressional inquiry over concerns that China could have access to key components of the highly classified technology. The Caliber.Az report said at least two congressional committees, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee, were reviewing the incident, and it added that a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on June 23 also addressed the matter. The Al Jazeera report said the concern stems from the F-35’s status as a fifth-generation stealth fighter incorporating stealth coatings, advanced radar, sensors and networking capabilities.
“At least two congressional committees — the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee — are reviewing the incident.”
The Al Jazeera report also quoted defense editor Alex Gatopoulos saying, “Whilst China has a reputation for intense industrial espionage, its own stealth fighter jet programme is advanced, with sixth-generation prototypes coming online,” and he added, “It’s debatable how much actual information China would glean from smaller, non-essential parts from an F-35.” The CBS News report said it was not clear whether the U.S. raised the missing plane parts with China during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit with President Trump, but it said military issues almost certainly came up during their meeting.