Chinese warplane lands in Egypt, stirring concern in Israel
A Chinese early warning aircraft landed at Egypt’s Beni Suef Military Airport, raising concern in Israel, Middle East Monitor reported on April 29th.
The aircraft, reportedly arrived to take part in a joint air exercise between Egypt and China, and was equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems. It has never operated far from Chinese territory.
According to the Israeli website Natsiv.net, the aircraft’s arrival has prompted scrutiny in Tel Aviv and Washington. While some observers suggest the deployment is routine and limited to mere training exercises, others believe it could signal deepening defence ties between Cairo and Beijing.
The joint drills come amid growing military cooperation between China and Egypt. A few months ago, China displayed one of its advanced fighter jets at a Cairo military exhibition for possible sale.
Ex-Israeli intelligence officer Eli Dekel, raised further questions about the strategic location of the aircraft’s landing. Dekel said Beni Suef Military Airport, has reportedly undergone extensive expansion since 2022. The construction of nine double hangars, each capable of housing up to six F-16 fighter jets, as well as two runways measuring 3,000 and 3,600 meters in length were included in the expansion.
In February, Israel’s ex-military chief Herzi Halevi warned of Egypt becoming a security threat in the near future.
Middle East Eye on February 27th reported the concerns he shared with Israel’s Channel 14. He said: “This is not at the top of our priorities…Egypt has a large army. It has advanced weapons, advanced aircraft, advanced submarines, and missile ships. We believe that this is not a threat now, but this situation can change in a moment.”
Despite these concerns, Egypt remains one of the main negotiators attempting to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. A Hamas delegation recently travelled to Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials to explore new proposals for a ceasefire with Israel, France 24 via AFP reported on April 22nd.
The visit follows Hamas’s rejection of Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal. The talks face the risk of being stalled, as Hamas insists on a permanent end to the conflict, while Israel continues to offer only a temporary ceasefire and demands that the group disarms. But Hamas has turned down these conditions, Middle East Eye reported on April 23rd.
Middle East Monitor, France 24 via AFP, Middle East Eye
