Washington: A Chinese fighter jet came within 20 feet of US air force surveillance aircraft over South China Sea on December 21.
When Chinese Navy J-11 fighter pilot "performed an unsafe maneuver”, the US Air Force RC-135 aircraft had to take “evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision,” news agency AFP reported.
During an intercept of RC-135 aircraft, the Chinese aircraft flew in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the US aircraft.
The US authorities claimed that the RC-135 was ‘lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace’ when the Chinese aircraft flew in “dangerously’ close to the US aircraft.
The close shave came as China is increasingly deploying warplanes over the sea Taiwan in a show of force.
China recently emphasized its claim of sovereignty of the US-backed Taiwan, sending warplanes over the sea.
Last week, China sent 71 warplanes including dozens of fighter jets to the area showcasing its largest aircraft drills yet, reports say.
The People's Liberation Army claimed to have conducted a ‘strike drill’ on Sunday to what it called ‘ provocations’ and ‘ collusion’ between the US and Taiwan.
The US has fortified Taiwan with advanced technologies to defend itself Chinese invasion, while refusing to accept China’s claim to numerous small islands across the South China Sea.
These islands are simultaneously being claimed by other Southeast Asian countries too