With the world seemingly hurtling toward another global conflict, this time between the growing authoritarian sect of the east and the liberty-laden nations of the west, China is growing ever bolder.
The far east superpower has been taunting and harassing the United States for years on end, not only by leveraging their enormous consumer base to influence the global culture, but also militarily – harassing Taiwan as a US proxy and sending any number of military assets into places and spaces that they should not be.
Like 20 feet away from a US aircraft.
A Chinese fighter pilot “performed an unsafe maneuver” while close to a U.S. Air Force plane, United States officials said Thursday.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the fighter pilot flew in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the RC-135 aircraft the U.S. pilot was flying on Dec. 21, 2022.
The American pilot was flying lawfully over the South China Sea, the command said, but was forced to “take evasive maneuvers” to avoid a collision. Neither pilot has been identified.
Authorities were livid.
“The U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force is dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law,” officials said. “We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.”
The footage was terrifying.
NEW FOOTAGE: Chinese J-11 fighter jet almost hits US Air Force plane – see here. #china #usa #airforce #veterans #gop #democrats #military #army #navy #marines #aviation #SouthChinaSea pic.twitter.com/ehM4fMBbKR
— American Military News (@AmerMilNews) December 30, 2022
This is far from the first time that Chinese military machines have dangerously approached US aircraft, and the increasing frequency of the incidents is only adding to the already simmering global tension.
