In dark skies over the waters of the South China Sea Tuesday, a People’s Republic of China J-11 pilot flew dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force B-52 aircraft “lawfully conducting routine operations,” according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Public Affairs.
According to the command, the Chinese pilot “executed an unsafe intercept,” of the U.S. aircraft and was flying in an “unprofessional” manner that “demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52.”
These actions were in violation of international air safety rules and norms, the command said. They were especially dangerous since the incident happened at night, with limited visibility.
“We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision,” said the command.
It also said that the incident is just one of more than 180 such interactions since fall 2021. A 2023 China Military Power Report (CMPR) described a pattern of “unsafe, unprofessional, and other behaviors that seek to impinge upon the ability of the United States and other nations to safely conduct operations,” where lawfully allowed. This month, the department also released images and videos of risky operational behavior by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) against U.S. aircraft.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and other officials have raised their concerns about the behavior with Chinese officials, per the Department of Defense.
During a Thursday press conference, Director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense for the PRC, Colonel Wu Qian, said that the U.S. “is the real provocateur, risk-taker, and troublemaker,” when responding to a question regarding the Chinese fighter jets.
“The places where Chinese and American warships and aircraft came into close contact were in the sea and airspace surrounding China. It did not occur in the Gulf of Mexico or the West Coast of the United States, but the U.S. side went to Provocations and troubles are coming to China’s doorstep,” said the colonel. “If you don’t come, can I stop you? The United States wants to endanger China’s national security while provoking and causing harassment without restraint. This is an impossible task. The Chinese military has always been on high alert and will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests.”
However, U.S. officials maintain that their pilots are operating in accordance with international law.
“The U.S will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international laws allow,” said the command Thursday.
“The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Force remains dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and we expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific to operate in international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. also shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon over the East Coast. Audacy reported that U.S. officials believed “the balloon was part of a fleet that make up a large-scale global surveillance system,” and that it harbored technology capable of monitoring U.S. communications.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also hosted PRC Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday.
“The meeting was part of a reciprocal visit following the Secretary’s travel to Beijing and recent high-level meetings as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage U.S.-China relations,” said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
These discussions are expected to continue Friday, when President Joe Biden is also expected to meet with Yi.