US slams Beijing for ‘aggressive’ action after Chinese plane comes within 400 feet of US spy plane

The Pentagon has called a maneuver in which a Chinese fighter jet flew over the path of a US spy plane over the South China Sea “unprofessional” and “unnecessarily aggressive.”

A pilot of China’s J-16 flew about 400 feet in front of the manned RC-135, “forcing the U.S. plane to fly through its wake turbulence,” defense officials said.

U.S. officials have released footage of the harrowing moment when the Chinese plane entered the path of the U.S. plane.

But Chinese military leaders hit back at the US characterization, saying the US spy plane “deliberately intruded” on its training area.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning told reporters at a briefing that China would continue to take measures it deems necessary to protect its sovereignty. “The US must stop these dangerous provocations immediately,” she said.

The maneuver created turbulence in front of the US aircraft which was captured on video from the cockpit

The maneuver came when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a trip to the Indo-Pacific region this month to meet with regional defense leaders. He is pictured in Japan during the visit

Those advocating for increased US military aid to Ukraine argue that it sends an important message to China about its threats to Taiwan.

Video from the US-China meeting on May 26 shows the Chinese jet approaching from the right before carefully crossing over and entering the path of the USAF reconnaissance aircraft.

“The United States Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all ships and aircraft under international law,” a statement accompanying the video read.

“We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.”

The incident adds to the military, diplomatic and economic tensions between the countries over US support for self-governing Taiwan.

China says it almost entirely owns the South China Sea, a claim not recognized internationally and directly disputed by countries along the coast, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning (pictured in October 2022) told reporters that China would continue to take any measures it deems necessary to protect its sovereignty

The most recent maneuver came when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin took a trip to the Indo-Pacific region to meet with regional defense leaders.

Still, the Pentagon said Monday that China rejected a request for Austin to meet with its Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu at a conference in Singapore.

China has also refused to enter into a dialogue between US and Chinese forces over the flying of spy balloons over the Americas.

Austin will address the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday and Shangfu will speak at the meeting on Sunday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the plane incident has shown why it is vital for the US and China to maintain high-level dialogue to avoid miscommunications and miscalculations that could lead to conflict.

He said it was “regrettable” that Beijing rejected Austin’s request to meet with China’s defense minister.

“I think it just underscores why it’s so important that we have regular, open lines of communication, including between our defense ministers,” Blinken said at a press conference at the end of an EU-US trade and technology meeting in Lulea, Sweden.

“As we have said repeatedly, while we have real competition with China, we also want to make sure that this does not turn into conflict and the main starting point for that is regular lines of communication,” he said.

On Monday, the Pentagon said China rejected a request for Austin to meet with its Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu (pictured) at a conference in Singapore.

The incident adds to the military, diplomatic and economic tensions between the countries over US support for self-governing Taiwan. Pictured is Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 19

China has said the US is fully responsible for the communications breakdown, but has not publicly given a reason.

China regularly challenges military jets from the US and its allies in the South and East China Seas, as well as in the Taiwan Strait connecting the two.

Such behavior led to a mid-air collision in 2001 between a Chinese fighter and a US Navy surveillance aircraft, in which the Chinese aircraft was lost and the pilot killed.

A Chinese plane flew within 20 feet of a U.S. plane over the South China Sea late last year, according to the US. New York Times.

In February, the Chinese military ordered a U.S. plane to clear its airspace and flew a fighter jet within 500 feet of the U.S. plane, according to Fox news.

In Tuesday’s statement, the Indo-Pacific Command said America will continue to “fly, sail and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law allows,” and expects all other countries to do the same.