NEW YORK: A dramatic incident in the skies above the South China Sea has raised concerns about the potential for mishaps as China and the United States are jockeying for influence in the region.
The US military reported that a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close to an American B-52 bomber, coming within a mere 10 feet of the US aircraft, nearly resulting in a catastrophic collision.
During the nighttime intercept, a Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter from China closed in on the US Air Force B-52 at an “uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of a collision,” according to a statement released by the US Indo-Pacific Command late Thursday.
Expressing deep concern, the US military remarked that it’s possible the Chinese pilot was unaware of the perilously close encounter, emphasizing the grave risks involved.
While the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not immediately responded to requests for comment, it’s worth noting that a similar incident in May saw the Chinese government dismiss American complaints and insist on Washington ending such flights over the South China Sea.
South China Sea dispute
China’s increasingly assertive posture regarding its territorial claims in the South China Sea has led to longstanding disputes with other countries in the region, including the US China insists on most of the South China Sea as its territorial waters, a stance rejected by the United States and other nations that heavily depend on the waterway for shipping.
This episode serves as another example of rising tensions in the South China Sea, which is not only a vital trade route but also an arena where international powers assert their interests. The United States and its allies frequently conduct maritime maneuvers and fly aircraft over the area to underline the international nature of these waters and airspace.
The US military underscored that the B-52 was “lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace” during the encounter with the J-11 fighter on Tuesday.
While interceptions are relatively common, with over 180 such incidents reported since the fall of 2021, encounters as dangerously close as Tuesday’s are infrequent. Given the already strained relations between Beijing and Washington, such an incident could have had dire consequences and led to further escalation.
Despite the harrowing encounter, the U.S. military emphasized that its approach would remain unchanged. “The US will continue to fly, sail, and operate—safely and responsibly—wherever international laws allow,” the military affirmed.
