“China’s Dangerous Maneuvers Near American RC-135 in the South China Sea”

The Chinese aircraft flew within 120 meters of an American RC-135, causing it to fly through the turbulence.

“The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace in accordance with international law,” the Indo-Pacific Command said.

The Pentagon called the incident “part of China’s behavior pattern.” An unnamed senior US Department of Defense official said there has been “an alarming increase in high-risk airborne and maritime interceptions” by Chinese aircraft and ships. Such actions may lead to “a dangerous incident or miscalculation.”

“We do not believe that this was done by pilots operating independently of each other. We consider this part of a larger plan,” the official said.

BREAKING: A China fighter jet is performing an ‘aggressive’ maneuver in front of a US Air Force Aircraft. pic.twitter.com/tTl2YTD2uy— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) May 30, 2023

US-China relations

U.S.-China relations are at their worst in decades, and any efforts to improve them are making little progress.

For example, China recently rejected a US request for a meeting of the heads of the countries’ defense ministries at the annual security forum in Singapore.

We also note that such an incident with the aircraft is not the first. So, in December 2022, a Chinese fighter jet made a dangerous maneuver, flying past an American reconnaissance aircraft at a distance of 3 meters, forcing them to take evasive measures to avoid a collision.

Read urgent and important messages about Russia’s war against Ukraine on the channel RBC-Ukraine on Telegram.