China releases clips of ‘provocative’ actions by the USS Ralph Johnson in the South China Sea, in which warships ‘carried out intimidation at close range’ – after the US aired a video of Beijing’s planes mocking US fighter jets
China has released images of “provocative” actions by a US warship in the South China Sea, as tensions in the region continue to escalate between the two nations.
The country’s Department of National Defense said the USS Ralph Johnson “committed close range intimidation” against the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task force, which was undergoing routine training on August 19.
It said the US warship “performed several provocative actions, such as making a sharp turn and suddenly accelerating or decelerating, crossing the bow of the PLANS Guilin and dangerously approaching the PLA Navy ships.”
A clip of the incident shows the US warship making a sharp turn, crossing the path of the PLAN Guilin and coming within 670 meters of the ship.
It comes after the Pentagon last Wednesday released 15 videos of “coercive and risky” behavior by Chinese pilots against US aircraft.
China has released images of “provocative” actions by a US warship in the South China Sea, as tensions in the region continue to escalate between the two nations.
The country’s Department of National Defense said the USS Ralph Johnson “committed close range intimidation” against the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task force, which was undergoing routine training on August 19.
A clip of the incident shows the US warship making a sharp turn, crossing the path of the PLAN Guilin and coming within 670 meters of the ship
The captain of the Chinese warship is heard saying: ‘American warship 114, this is Chinese 164.
“You cross my bow by force. It puts my safety at risk.”
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said at a regular news conference on Thursday that the images “show that the US side is the real provoker, risk taker and disruptor.”
The US destroyer’s actions “jeopardize China’s national security,” Wu said, before adding that the country would “take all necessary measures to resolutely protect national sovereignty.”
In the clip, China claims the US has violated international rules and agreements between nations for the safety of air and maritime encounters.
The Chinese military rarely releases footage of its encounters with the US military.
It seems to be trying to show that the American warships were looking for trouble while acting responsibly.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea and is unfazed by the military exercises of the US and its allies in the region.
Footage released by the US last week shows Chinese aircraft harassing US assets during legal flights in international airspace by firing flares, ‘flashing their weapons’ and flying up to six meters away.
The maneuvers are among 180 cases of such behavior that have occurred since the fall of 2021, more incidents than in the previous two decades.
They are also part of what US officials consider a “centralized and coordinated campaign” to challenge US operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The captain of the Chinese warship is heard saying, “American warship 114, this is Chinese 164. “You are crossing my bow by force. It disrupts my safety’
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the images “show that the US side is the real provoker, risk taker and disruptor.”
In the clip, China claims the US has violated international rules and agreements between nations for the safety of air and maritime encounters
A shocking video from July 12 shows a Chinese People’s Liberation Army warplane deploying eight flares just 1,000 feet from a U.S. plane over the East China Sea.
Another video taken on July 7 shows a Chinese plane hovering over the South China Sea just six meters away from a US fighter.
Similarly, a video taken on February 15 shows a Chinese plane just 20 meters away. The plane is so close that the American pilot can clearly film the Chinese pilot.
One of the most egregious incidents occurred on June 22 and involved a Chinese jet that “flashed its weapons” at an American pilot before berating him over the radio.
In a description, the Pentagon said the Chinese aircraft “approached a distance of just 40 feet before repeatedly flying above and below the U.S. plane and flashing its weapons.”
“After the U.S. operator radioed the PLA fighter jet, the PLA pilot responded with explicit language, including an expletive.”
In May, American pilots witnessed the moment they were shunted from their cockpit after a Chinese jet zoomed past the nose of their plane.
The clip shows the Chinese plane approaching in the distance before zooming past the front of the American plane.
The Pentagon has released 15 videos from the past 12 months showing Chinese planes harassing American pilots
Chinese planes have been filmed flying within six meters of US fighter jets in what has been branded ‘risky and coercive’ behavior
The maneuvers force the American pilots to fly through the Chinese plane’s wake turbulence, causing the cockpit to shake and shake.
The incidents have been described by Pentagon officials as “coercive and risky,” which falls under “unsafe and unprofessional” on the official rating scale.
A Canadian general criticized China’s air force after an incident near the Asian country’s coast in which a fighter jet reportedly cut off a patrol plane and dropped flares in its path.
The Philippines recently released clips showing “aggressive” actions by Chinese ships in the South China Sea.
It has released videos and images of eight incidents so far this year.
President Joe Biden warned China on Wednesday that the US would be forced to intervene if Chinese ships attacked Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
It comes after a Chinese coast guard ship collided with a supply boat contracted by the Philippines on Sunday, before another Chinese maritime boat struck a Philippine coast guard vessel hours later.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is likely to discuss rising tensions during a visit to the US. According to a source, he will meet Biden at the White House on Friday.
Yi will also meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during his visit.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Ministry of Defense for comment.