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A Chinese fighter jet along with a guided missile destroyer warship in the South China Sea warned a US military reconnaissance plane away from Chinese airspace in a heart-stopping confrontation, all caught on camera.
The US plane was 30 miles from any airspace considered Chinese property, including the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, but the Chinese military seems proactive in defending territory outside its jurisdiction in what could be seen as maneuvers. threatening.
The first time the American pilot knew something was wrong happened when a thunderous voice claiming to be from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was suddenly heard on the radio.
‘American planes. Chinese airspace is 12 nautical miles. Don’t get any closer or you take full responsibility,’ the message said.
Lt. Nikki Slaughter, who was piloting the American Boeing 737-like plane, responded quickly to the radio transmission, just as a Chinese plane armed with air-to-air missiles approached them.
The footage shows a Chinese fighter jet warning a US military fighter jet to move out of Chinese airspace over the South China Sea.
The US fighter jet was more than 30 miles from any airspace recognized as Chinese property at the time of the heart-stopping encounter. In the picture, the Chinese fighter plane
The encounter was so close that the red stars of the Chinese military symbol could be seen on the pilot’s helmet and on the side of the plane.
‘PLA fighter jet, this is the US Navy P-8A…. I have it off my left wing and intend to continue west. I ask you to do the same, over.
There was no response, but the Chinese pilot continued to escort the US plane for another 15 minutes from just 500 feet away, in what could be seen as a clear sign of rising tensions between the two countries, each exerting its military force.
US Navy mission commander Navy Cmdr. Marc Hines, downplayed the incident, simply describing it as “just another Friday afternoon in the South China Sea” as he spoke to cnn, who were on board.
Later in Friday’s mission, still over the South China Sea but this time closer to the Philippines, Slaughter’s US Navy P-8 aircraft detected a US Navy guided-missile destroyer warship. Chinese Navy (PLA), probably armed with dozens of surface-to-air missiles. .
The American plane descended to 1,000 feet only to receive further warnings from the PLA.
Lt. Nikki Slaughter, the pilot of the American plane, answers the Chinese military over the plane’s radio.
China continues to claim historic jurisdiction over almost the entire sea and has been in the process of building artificial islands since 2014, complete with missiles, landing strips and weapons systems.
As the US fighter jet descended to 1,000 feet, it received a second warning to steer clear of a Chinese Navy Destoryer warship.
The US military saw a Chinese Navy (PLA) guided-missile destroyer warship, likely armed with dozens of surface-to-air missiles.
‘American planes. American planes. This is Chinese naval warship 173. You are approaching me at low altitude. State your intention,” a Chinese-accented voice said in English over the radio.
Lieutenant Slaughter replied that the American aircraft would keep a safe distance from the ship.
‘American planes. American planes. This is Chinese naval warship 173. It is clearly endangering my safety. You are clearly endangering my safety,” the Chinese ship stated.
‘I am a United States military aircraft. I will keep a safe distance from your unit,’ Slaughter replied once more.
The US Navy says such missions are routine, though Commander Hines says the radio silence from the Chinese is disturbing.
‘When there is no answer, leave questions. Do you understand what they were saying? Do they understand our intentions? Do you understand that we mean no harm? he asks.
In recent years, the South China Sea has become a potential flashpoint in the Asia Pacific due to territorial disputes between China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over islands such as the Paracels.
US Navy mission commander Navy Cmdr. Marc Hines, downplayed the incident, simply describing it as “just another Friday afternoon in the South China Sea.”
China regularly holds military exercises throughout the South China Sea and continues to maintain a large coast guard and fishing boat presence in the disputed waters, further stoking tensions with neighbors.
The American reconnaissance aircraft is capable of flying long missions thanks to a refueling aircraft.
In recent years, the South China Sea has become a potential flashpoint in the Asia Pacific due to territorial disputes between China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over islands such as the Paracels.
The region holds significant resources including fish, oil, gas, with about a third of the world’s shipping, valued at around $3.4 trillion in 2016, passing through it.
China continues to claim historic jurisdiction over almost the entire sea and has been in the process of building artificial islands since 2014, complete with missiles, landing strips and weapons systems.
The islands have civilian populations inhabiting them and their sole purpose appears to be for tactical purposes and military dominance of the area.
There are believed to be some 1,400 Chinese military personnel working on the islands around which China claimed that there is 12 nautical miles of airspace around the islands. The claim is not recognized by the US.
China regularly holds military exercises throughout the South China Sea and continues to maintain a large coast guard and fishing boat presence in the disputed waters, further stoking tensions with neighbors.