A Chinese fighter jet performs a dangerous maneuver against an American spy plane (US Army)
A Chinese fighter jet performed an "aggressive and unnecessary maneuver" when it intercepted a U.S. spy plane over the South China Sea, the U.S. military said Tuesday. The military released footage of last week's incident, in which a Chinese J-16 fighter jet emerged directly from the bow of an RC-135 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace, forcing it through its air pocket. The plane was filmed shaking during the incident.
According to the U.S. Army's Indo-Pacific Command, the aircraft was in "routine and safe operations" in international airspace. "The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law permits, and the Joint Indo-Pacific Command Force will continue to fly in international space, taking into account the safety of all vessels and aircraft, under international law," the statement said.
The incident came amid rising tensions between the world's two strongest economies, which began last August with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and continued with the downing of a Chinese spy balloon that entered U.S. airspace in February.
Washington had hoped to arrange a meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore this week, but Beijing refused. This follows efforts by the United States to arrange visits by senior government officials to Beijing to discuss security and other issues.
A Chinese fighter jet approaches an American spy plane over the South China Sea, May 2023 (Photo: Screenshot, Pentagon)
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