China Su-27
A Chinese fighter came perilously close to a US military patrol plane over international waters east of China’s Hainan Island, the Pentagon has said.
Spokesman John Kirby said that the US had protested to the Chinese military over the mid-air intercept, calling the fighter pilot’s actions “unsafe and unprofessional”.
He said that the Chinese aircraft came within 10 metres of the US Navy plane.
Correspondents say that it is the fourth such incident since March.
So far there has been no comment about the reported near-miss from China.
Rear Admiral Kirby said that the incident happened on Tuesday when an armed Chinese Su-27 fighter intercepted a US Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft that was on a routine mission.
“We have registered our strong concerns to the Chinese about the unsafe and unprofessional intercept, which posed a risk to the safety and the well-being of the air crew, and was inconsistent with customary international law,” he said.
He said that the Chinese manoeuvre detracted from efforts to improve American relations with China’s military.
The warplane flew close to the surveillance aircraft three times, he said, flying above, underneath and alongside it. At one point it performed “a barrel roll” in an apparent display of its weapons.
Rear Adm Kirby said that the Chinese manoeuvre was “very, very close, very dangerous”.
Near-misses between aircraft and naval vessels of the US and China are commonplace off the coast of China.
In December China said one of its warships “encountered” a US guided missile cruiser, confirming US reports of a near-collision in the South China Sea.
Shortly before this incident China set up an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, and said that aircraft flying through the zone must follow its rules, including filing flight plans.
The US, Japan and South Korea have rejected China’s zone, and flown undeclared military aircraft through it. The US has called the move a unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the region.
The most serious incident in recent years however took place in 2001, when a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US Navy EP-3 spy plane, killing the Chinese pilot.
Source: BBC – US accuses China fighter of reckless mid-air interceptRelated articles
- Chinese media claims: Japan has plans to force down Chinese jets; Chinese jets chase away Japanese jets (chinadailymail.com)
- Australia joins Japan, Vietnam, Philippines in opposing China (chinadailymail.com)
- China claims successful attack on Japanese military satellite; destroyed control chip with “secret weapon” (chinadailymail.com)
- Armed Chinese fighter jets approach within metres of Japanese planes over East China Sea (chinadailymail.com)
- Japan may fire warning shots at Chinese aircraft, leading to war (chinadailymail.com)
- US accuses China fighter of reckless mid-air intercept (punchng.com)
- Pentagon: Chinese fighter jet conducted “dangerous intercept” of U.S. plane (cbsnews.com)
- Chinese fighter jet intercepted Navy sub-hunter plane in South China Sea (stripes.com)
- US Registers Concern To China For Dangerous Intercept Of Plane (eurasiareview.com)
- Chinese fighter jet intercepted Navy sub-hunter plane in South China Sea (latimes.com)
Categories: Defence & Aerospace
China’s Tianwen-1 lowers its orbit around Mars to prepare for rover landing 
China says four PLA soldiers died in India border clash last year 
The CR929 – The Plane Set To Challenge Airbus & Boeing 
Cambodia suspends annual military exercises with China 
The Chinese understand one thing: strength. The weak American response and official “protests” accomplish absolutely nothing. These incidents are not just a problem of renegade pilots, but “unofficial” official Chinese military policy of testing and intimidating legal US movement. Failure to respond in kind will only see China being more brash in the future with not only the US, but also Japan and the rest of China’s neighbors.
LikeLike
Both China and America understand the need for strength to deal with each other. With a good balance of power between the two countries, the deciding factor is wisdom.
LikeLike
I guess, the “West” must have missed some part of China’s history there too, where China claims international, or other nation’s airspace as “their’s”.
How many times does it need to be told, that China gives a shit, when it comes to their claims.
Soon they will claim your backyard and then you still cry.
You “diplomatic” dumb and whining West, you deserve it. Otherwise, you’d have brought this Chinese bullshit to a still, a long time ago, already.
LikeLike
Not true. China lost a lot of territories from 1840 to 1940 when it was weak. China is strengthening and is reclaiming its lost land. China does not aspire for an inch of foreign land.
Editor’s Note: In response to the many emails about this poster, we do suspect he’s a paid Chinese internet commentator. However, we believe that all people should be allowed to voice their opinions, not just the ones that agree with our agenda. Therefore, at this stage we will not ban him, but have deleted comments that are blatant Chinese propaganda, and totally unrelated to the article.
LikeLike
/* Based on the account of Wang Wei’s wingman, the Chinese government stated that the American plane “veered at a wide angle towards the Chinese”, in the process ramming the J-8. This claim cannot be verified since the Chinese government refuses to release data from the black boxes of either plane, both of which are in its possession.*/
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan_Island_incident
And why, if they have a chance to proof they are right, why would they NOT release supporting data?
WHY?
Because it would proof their BIG MOUTH and nothing else.
TIC TAC
This Is China Terrifying And Cunning
LikeLike
China is right to intercept American spy plane in international airspace in China’s vicinity just as it will be right for America to intercept Chinese spy plane in international airspace in America’s vicinity.
Editor’s Note: In response to the many emails about this poster, we do suspect he’s a paid Chinese internet commentator. However, we believe that all people should be allowed to voice their opinions, not just the ones that agree with our agenda. Therefore, at this stage we will not ban him, but have deleted comments that are blatant Chinese propaganda, and totally unrelated to the article.
LikeLike