The United States accused a Chinese fighter jet of engaging in an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver near a US military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace. The incident occurred last week when a Chinese J-16 aircraft forced a US RC-135 plane to fly through its wake turbulence. In response, the US military command responsible for the Indo-Pacific emphasized its commitment to safely and responsibly operate wherever international law permits. A video of the incident showed the fighter jet passing in front of the US plane’s nose, causing turbulence that shook the RC-135’s cockpit.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, represented by spokesperson Liu Pengyu, did not directly address the incident but instead criticized the United States for frequently deploying aircraft and vessels for close-in reconnaissance on China, claiming it poses a threat to China’s national security. Liu urged the US to cease such dangerous provocations and stop blaming China. He emphasized that China would continue taking the necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and security, working with regional countries to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. China’s territorial claims in the region overlap with those of other countries.
This incident took place prior to China rejecting a request from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue Asian Security Summit. According to an anonymous senior US defense official, China has declined or not responded to over a dozen requests for dialogue since 2021. The US believes that such communication is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and unintended consequences.
The encounter adds to a series of incidents the United States deems increasingly dangerous behavior by Chinese military aircraft. While such intercepts occur occasionally, the tension between China and the United States has been palpable, with disagreements over various issues ranging from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to its military activities in the South China Sea.