US Indo-Pacific command on Tuesday claimed a Chinese fighter jet conducted an “unprofessional intercept” of a US spy plane over the South China Sea, an area where the US has increased its military presence in recent years.
The command said the incident occurred on May 26 and that a Chinese J-16 jet “flew directly in front of the nose” of a US RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, forcing the US plane to “fly through its wake turbulence.” The command released a video that purported to show the encounter.
It’s not clear how close to China’s coast or where exactly the incident took place over the South China Sea. The heavy US military presence in the region raises the risk of an accident between the two militaries, which could spiral into a full-blown conflict as US-China relations are at their lowest point in decades.
The encounter over the South China Sea comes amid a lack of communication between high-level US and Chinese military officials. Beijing has declined to hold a meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, because the US refuses to lift sanctions that were imposed on Li when he served in a different role in 2018.
The US has stepped up its military activity in the South China Sea in recent years to challenge China’s claims to the waters and as part of Washington’s overall strategy against Beijing. According to the South China Sea Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, the US conducted about 1,000 surveillance flights over the South China Sea in 2022.
Boys in toys screwing with each other.
Sure their respective country’s old men politicians are now getting huffy at each other but the pilots are likely drinking for free and their backs are getting bruised from their buddies patting them on their backs in congratulation for screwing with the other guy or withstanding the screwing.
As if US abides by all the international aviation laws all the time…!
Amerikkka, stay in your own f*cking neighborhood and such things won’t happen.
Sounds to me like the Chinese pilot was saying to the US pilot,
“I fart up your nose”.
“US Indo-Pacific command on Tuesday claimed a Chinese fighter jet conducted an ‘unprofessional intercept’ of a US spy plane over the South China Sea…” Dave, I found typos/misprints. First, the word “China” was somehow in the “South China Sea.” Second, that “US Spy Plane” must have been a “US Weather Plane.” Third, I didn’t see the word “disputed” in “disputed South China Sea.” I myself don’t understand how it could be “disputed” or what business we have there, but due to my OCD, I feel that word is missing. One can’t be “too careful.” If those were not typos/misprints, then people may easily conclude the US is definitely pursuing war with China. (Sarcasm alert)
‘Unprofessional intercept’?
Would the US State Department like to tell me what was ‘professional’ about their invasions/occupations of both Iraq and Afghanistan?
Fighter pilot mistook it as a spy balloon disguised as a plane.
As usual cowardly Pentagon rats soil their panties over Chinese making a bumpy flight for their spy plane. I’d prefer to hear about that spy plane crashing due to ‘technical issues’
Both Kremlin and Beijing need to stop being nice. Slap the arrogance out imperial parasites. I guarantee there wont be any kind of retaliation because imperial rats are cowards.
“US Accuses Chinese Jet of ‘Unprofessional Intercept’ Over South China Sea -The US has stepped up military activity in the South China Sea, making an accident between the US and Chinese militaries more likely”
Of course, anyone who is not from the US or NATO is not professional if they buzz an American military jet close aboard.
Only American fighter pilots can thump other countries patrol aircraft when they are close to American interests.
More American hubris and BS.