Pentagon accuses Chinese pilot of aggressive maneuver.

US Military Aircraft Has Close Encounter with Chinese Fighter Pilot

A United States military aircraft flying over the South China Sea had an irregular interaction with a Chinese fighter pilot, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred last Friday when the PRC pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the U.S. Air Force RC-135. USINDOPACOM described the PLA J-16 fighter pilot’s actions as “an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver … forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence,” while the “RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law.”

Indo-Pacific Command declassified and released a 30-second video from inside the U.S. aircraft showing the Chinese pilot’s intercept. The video starts by showing the other fighter jet from what appears to be the right of the U.S. aircraft before it flies in front of it. As the Chinese aircraft flies in front of the U.S. RC-135, the pilot and camera can be seen jostling from the turbulence caused by the Chinese pilot.

Tensions Between China and the US

The incident comes amid a rough patch in the relationship between Chinese and U.S. defense officials. The Chinese declined a request from top U.S. defense officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, for a meeting between him and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu before a security forum in Singapore.

“This is far from the first time that the PRC has rejected invitations to communicate from the secretary, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, or other department officials. Frankly, it’s just the latest in a litany of excuses. Since 2021, the PRC has declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests,” a senior defense official told the Washington Examiner.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a trip to China in early March after a Chinese surveillance balloon floated across U.S. airspace before the military shot it down off the Carolina coast. That meeting with Blinken has not yet been rescheduled, though U.S. officials have said they’re working on a trip that includes Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Chinese Military Buildup in the South China Sea

Tensions have also been strained by the Chinese military buildup in the South China Sea and its increasingly aggressive posture toward Taiwan, a self-governing island over which China claims sovereignty. Chinese government officials have indicated their willingness to take Taiwan by force if necessary.

What’s Next?

The situation between China and the US remains tense, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. It remains to be seen what the future holds for these two superpowers and their relationship.