US says Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to US plane

The Chinese plane flew within 20 feet of the nose of a US military aircraft over the South China Sea this month , nearly causing a collision, the US military said.

VideoA plane Chinese military flew within 20 feet of a US Air Force plane conducting routine operations over the South China Sea this month, officials said. Department of Defense

The US military said Thursday that a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close to a US Air Force plane carrying out routine operations over the South China Sea in December. 21, almost causing the planes to collide.

The Chinese pilot of a J-11 jet "performed a dangerous maneuver", flying ahead and less than 20 feet from the nose of a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, the US military said in a statement, adding that the US pilot was forced to perform "evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision".

The United States Indo-Pacific Command, which is part of the United States armed forces and is responsible for protecting the national interests of approximately three dozen countries in the region, said in a statement Thursday that it expects all states in the region "to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law."

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys 1bk0">A command spokesman, referring to the Chinese People's Liberation Army by its initials, also t said in an email: "We have seen an alarming increase in the number of dangerous aerial interceptions and clashes at sea by P.L.A. aircraft and ships.

"Thus, this latest incident reflects a disturbing trend of unsafe and dangerous interception practices by the P.L.A. that is of grave concern to the United States."< /p>

As to why the US military waited eight days to publicize the encounter, another spokesperson wrote: "A disclosure like this takes the time to verify details, obtain and declassify footage, and make appropriate notifications to other government agencies that he was "closely following" Chinese military activities in the South China Sea, Philippine Sea and offshore of eastern China. And he stressed that he continues to "oppose any pressure or military coercion against our allies and partners in the region".

China has long claimed the islands of the South China Sea territory. In a 2015 bear speech in Singapore, China's top leader, Xi Jinping, said the islands had been under Chinese control "since ancient times" and that China "must take responsibility for safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and legitimate maritime interests. ".

Beijing has become more assertive in recent years, building military infrastructure at sea and sending ships and planes near islands claimed by both Japan and China. Earlier this year, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken called China the biggest challenger to the international order and said the United States would work with...