The US military reported on Thursday that a Chinese military plane came within 20 feet (6 metres) of a US air force aircraft and forced it to do evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision over the South China Sea.
The close call came as a result of what the US has described as a recent pattern of more risky activity by Chinese military aircraft.
The incident, involving a US air force RC-135 and a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet, happened on December 21, the US military noted in a statement.
“The US Indo-Pacific Joint Force is dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law,” the statement added.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin brought up the need for better crisis communications during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in November. He also mentioned what he called risky activity by Chinese military aircraft.
An Australian military surveillance plane was riskily intercepted by a Chinese fighter aircraft in the South China Sea region in May, according to a statement from Australia’s defence department in June.
According to Australia, the Chinese jet flew extremely close to the RAAF aircraft in front of it and unleashed a “bundle of chaff” including tiny fragments of aluminium that entered the engine of the Australian aircraft.
