Chinese Jet Made Unnecessary Aggressive Manoeuvre In South China Sea: US

The Pentagon has released footage of a Chinese J-16 fighter jet making an unnecessary aggressive manoeuvre near a US military plane over the South China Sea on May 26.

Thee Chinese J-16 fighter cut directly in front of the one of the US RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft on May 26, which in turn forced the US plane to fly through the wake of turbulence of the intercepting aircraft.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate - safely and responsibly - wherever international law allows, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law," US Indo-Pacific Command said.

#USINDOPACOM Statement on #PRC Unprofessional Intercept: "We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law."

Read more⬇️https://t.co/jeAEg1lHXz pic.twitter.com/AvPKRZHCZB

— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) May 30, 2023

This takes place amidst already strained relations between the two countries following the visit by former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in August last year. Tensions have also been high after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that transmitted over sensitive US military sites in February.

"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 from the Department of Defense for key leader engagements, multiple requests for standing dialogues, and nearly ten working-level engagements," an official cited by CNN said.

On the latest incident, a press release read, "its pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence. We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law."