Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to American bomber

On Oct. 24, a Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet (3 m) of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, the U.S. military said. Writes about this CNN.

Photo: IStock

“The Chinese pilot, having made an unsafe and unprofessional flight, demonstrated poor piloting skills. It sped uncontrollably and flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of the B-52, putting both aircraft at risk of collision, the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. “We are concerned that this pilot did not realize how close he came to causing the collision.”

US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to the White House on October 27. It is unclear whether the event will be a formal discussion or a more informal meeting.

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Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping could also meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, in November, although neither side has confirmed final plans.

On October 26, the United States and China released videos accusing each other of provocative maneuvers in and around the South China Sea, escalating tensions over the disputed waters.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense, during a regular press briefing, released a video recording that on August 19, the US Navy ship Ralph Johnson "carried out close pursuit" of a Chinese Navy task force conducting routine exercises in the South China Sea.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the video “shows that the American side is a real provocateur, taking risks and disrupting order.” According to him, the actions of the American warship "endanger China's national security." He assured that China "will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty."

“American fighter jets coming to flex their muscles at our doorstep are the root cause of the threat to the safety of aviation and maritime transport,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.

Earlier this month, Pentagon Indo-Pacific security chief Eli Ratner said that over the past two years, the United States has seen more incidents of "risky" behavior by Chinese pilots against American aircraft in the East China and South China Seas than for the entire previous decade.

“Since the fall of 2021, we have observed more than 180 such incidents,” Ratner stated. “This is a centralized and concerted campaign to engage in this type of risky behavior to force changes in legitimate U.S. operational activities.”

Efforts by the Pentagon this year to reach out to Chinese military leaders have gone unanswered, and U.S. officials have become increasingly concerned about the lack of military dialogue between the countries. Beijing cut ties after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year, infuriating Chinese leaders.

“I have been asking for a conversation with my colleagues for two and a half years,” INDOPACOM commander Adm. John Aquilino said earlier this month. “So far, none of these requests have been granted.”

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As part of the latest National Defense Strategy, the US pointed to China as a “challenge” capable of rivaling America in its military, economic power and international influence. Beijing already has a standing army of more than a million soldiers, the world's largest navy by number of ships, and the region's largest air force.

Beijing claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost the entire South China Sea and has used its military might to assert sovereignty in disputed waters and beyond, including Taiwan.

In 2022, the Chinese military stepped up its aggressive actions toward the island, including ballistic missile overflights, military aircraft flying into Taiwan's air identification zone, and major exercises near the island. Although Xi Jinping and stated that he was committed to the peaceful unification of Taiwan with China, he did not renounce the use of military force to achieve his goal.

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