US Military Reports Chinese Fighter Jet Approached Within 10 Feet of US Bomber Over South China Sea
A Chinese fighter jet dangerously approached a US Air Force B-52 bomber as it flew over the South China Sea on Tuesday, as reported by the US military. The Chinese pilot's actions were deemed "unsafe and unprofessional," demonstrating poor airmanship by flying too close and too fast, positioning the aircraft within 10 feet of the B-52, which placed both planes in a collision risk, according to a statement released by US Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday. The US expressed concern that the Chinese pilot might have been unaware of the imminent collision risk.
News of this recent Chinese intercept coincides with President Joe Biden's upcoming meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the White House on Friday, as reported by CNN. The nature of the meeting, whether formal or informal, remains unclear. Additionally, Wang is expected to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday and national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday.
Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping might also convene during the APEC Summit in San Francisco next month, although both sides have yet to confirm their plans.
On Thursday, both the US and China released video footage accusing each other of provocative maneuvers in the South China Sea and its vicinity, further escalating tensions in the disputed region. China's Defense Ministry shared a video during a routine press briefing, alleging that the USS Ralph Johnson engaged in "close-in harassment" against a Chinese navy task group conducting routine training in the South China Sea on August 19.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian asserted that the US was the actual instigator, risk-taker, and disrupter, putting China's national security in jeopardy. Wu emphasized that China would take all necessary measures to staunchly defend its national sovereignty.
In response to questions during a regular briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, "US fighter jets coming all the way to flex their muscles at our doorstep is the root cause of aviation and maritime safety risks."
Ely Ratner, the Pentagon's top official responsible for security in the Indo-Pacific, disclosed earlier this month that the past two years had seen an increased number of "coercive and risky" actions by Chinese pilots against US aircraft over the East and South China Seas, surpassing the total number in the previous decade. He described it as a concentrated effort to pressure a change in lawful US operational activities.
Efforts by the Pentagon this year to engage with Chinese military leadership have remained unanswered, raising concerns among US officials about the absence of military-to-military dialogue between the two countries. The breakdown in communications began after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last year, which incited anger among Chinese leaders.
As part of the latest National Defense Strategy, the US has identified China as the primary challenge, capable of competing with the United States in terms of military strength, economic power, and global influence. China boasts a standing army of over one million soldiers, the world's largest navy in terms of the number of ships, and the region's largest air force.
China asserts "indisputable sovereignty" over nearly all of the South China Sea and employs its military power to uphold its sovereignty claims in the contested waters and beyond, particularly concerning Taiwan.
In 2022, the Chinese military intensified its aggressive actions toward Taiwan, including ballistic missile overflights, military aircraft entering Taiwan's airspace, and significant exercises near Taiwan. Although Xi has expressed a desire for the peaceful unification of Taiwan with China, he has not ruled out the use of military force to achieve this goal.