A Chinese fighter jet came too close to an American B-52 bomber while flying over the South China Sea.
This incident highlights the possibility of an accident as both countries compete for regional influence, as per ABC News.
US-China Tensions Soar Amid Risky Aerial Encounter
There have been ongoing tensions between the United States and China. A Chinese fighter pilot engaged in a dangerous aerial encounter with a US Air Force B-52 bomber. The incident, which took place in the South China Sea, has raised concerns about the potential for a collision and further escalation in the region.
The US Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement expressing concerns about the Chinese pilot's actions. According to a statement, the pilot "flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner, demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of collision."
The US military emphasized that the Chinese pilot may not have been aware of how close the two aircraft came to colliding. This incident comes at a critical time, as President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to the White House.
The nature of the formal or informal meeting remains to be seen. Wang is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The exchange of accusations and provocations between the US and China has escalated.
During a press briefing, China's Defense Ministry released a video alleging that the USS Ralph Johnson had engaged in "close-in harassment" against a Chinese navy task group during routine training in the South China Sea.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian accused the US of being the real provocateur, risk-taker, and disrupter, endangering China's national security, according to CNN.
Chinese Pilot Aggression Alarms Pentagon's Indo-Pacific Chief
The Pentagon's top official for security in the Indo-Pacific, Ely Ratner, noted that there had been more instances of "coercive and risky" behavior from Chinese pilots against US aircraft in the last two years over the East and South China Seas than in the entire preceding decade.
Ratner described it as a centralized and concerted campaign to coerce a change in US operational activities. The lack of military-to-military dialogue between the US and China has raised concerns, with Beijing cutting off communications after a visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Despite efforts by US officials to engage with Chinese military leadership, requests for dialogue have primarily gone unanswered. China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, where it claims "indisputable sovereignty" over most of the waters, has led to territorial disputes with other nations in the region.
The US and its allies regularly conduct maritime maneuvers and fly aircraft in the area to assert international rights to the waters and airspace. The recent aerial encounter involving the B-52 and the Chinese fighter jet highlights the potential dangers of such meetings, especially when tensions are already high.
The US military has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting operations following international laws and safety measures. As the US and China continue to navigate their complex relationship, these incidents underscore the importance of diplomacy and open lines of communication to prevent further escalation and maintain stability in the region, NBC New York reported.
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