airspace
US accuses China of “aggressive” maneuvers
A Chinese fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier Shandong. (icon image) photo
© Uncredited/CCTV/Xinhua/AP/dpa
China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. The United States accuses Beijing of increasing militarization of the region. An incident now occurs during a maneuver.
There has been an incident between a Chinese fighter jet and a US reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea.
The US Pacific Command accused a Chinese pilot of an “unnecessarily aggressive” intercept maneuver on Tuesday. The incident happened last Friday. The US RC-135 aircraft conducted a “safe and routine operation over the South China Sea in international airspace,” according to the US Pacific Command.
The Chinese pilot flew his fighter jet right in front of the US plane’s nose and forced it to fly through the wake turbulence of the Chinese jet. This is invisible turbulence that can be dangerous for following aircraft. “We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law,” it said. The US also released video of the incident.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. However, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also claim territories there. The United States and China’s neighbors accuse Beijing of increasing militarization of the region. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected the territorial claims in 2016. But China ignores the verdict. US-China relations are at rock bottom. China’s backing for Russia’s war in Ukraine, its claims in the South China Sea and the ongoing trade war with mutual punitive tariffs are the main causes of controversy.