Chinese Jet Came Within 20 Feet Of US Military Aircraft Over South China Sea: Report

A Chinese military plane came within 20 feet (6 metres) of a US air force plane last week, forcing it to make evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision in international airspace over the South China Sea, the US military said on Thursday. 

The close encounter resulted from what the US has described as a recent trend of increasingly dangerous behaviour by Chinese military aircraft.

The incident, which involved a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet and a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, occurred on 21 December, according to the US military.

“The US Indo-Pacific Joint Force is committed 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,” according to the statement.

In a November meeting with his Chinese counterpart, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasised the importance of improving crisis communications and what he called dangerous behaviour by Chinese military planes.

According to Australia's defence department, a Chinese fighter plane dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May.

According to Australia, the Chinese jet flew very close to the RAAF aircraft. It released a “bundle of chaff” containing small pieces of aluminium that were ingested into the engine of the Australian aircraft.