A senior U.S. official said, “We have seen an alarming increase in the number of risky aerial intercepts and confrontations at sea” by Chinese aircraft.
A Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea on Saturday, according to the Pentagon. This incident is part of a growing number of confrontations involving Chinese military aircraft and ships.
The Chinese J-16 jet performed an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” by flying directly in front of the nose of the U.S. RC-135, forcing the American plane to fly through the fighter jet’s wake turbulence. The Pentagon released video footage of the encounter, calling the action risky and dangerous.
The U.S. plane was conducting “safe and routine operations” in international airspace, in accordance with international law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the incident, stating that the Chinese pilot’s actions were “dangerous” and part of a larger pattern of such actions targeting not only the U.S. but other nations as well.
Late Monday, the Pentagon reported that China had rejected a U.S. request for a meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which runs from June 2 to June 4. The U.S. had hoped the meeting would provide a platform for dialogue between the two nations’ defense leaders.
Blinken emphasized the importance of regular communication between the two countries to avoid misunderstandings and prevent conflicts. He expressed regret over China’s refusal to hold the meeting, underscoring that communication is crucial to preventing a potential miscalculation or unsafe incident.
The Pentagon’s senior official highlighted an alarming increase in risky aerial intercepts and maritime confrontations by Chinese military forces. These encounters, officials warn, have the potential to escalate into a more serious incident if not properly managed.
The rise in such incidents between U.S. and Chinese military forces reflects growing tensions in the region and underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to manage these sensitive situations.
