The Chinese Air Force threatened via radio a U.S. Navy aircraft that had been flying for several hours over the South China Sea. Shortly thereafter, the Asian country decided to send a fighter jet, according to reports.
Several media outlets reported that there was another tense event between China and the United States after a U.S. Navy surveillance pilot was warned to move away from Chinese airspace, which was 30 miles from the location of the U.S. aircraft.
"No approaching any more or you will pay full responsibility," the Chinese Air Force said via radio shortly before sending a fighter jet which positioned itself just 500 feet from the left wing of the U.S. aircraft.
After the tense meeting, U.S. officials stated that such events have become frequent in the South China Sea, due to China's attempt to position itself as the dominant force in the area and thus claim control of islands that are mostly uninhabited.
This was my view of a Chinese J11 fighter jet about 500ft off the wing of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane…that was intercepted today over the South China Sea after stern radio warnings from #China’s PLA. We’ll take you on board the P8 on @NBCNightlyNews @NBCNews… pic.twitter.com/knbl4CC7V9
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisfrayer) February 24, 2023
"Since I’ve been in the Navy, going on 18, 19 years now, I can tell you there is a dramatic change over that span, specifically the South China Sea,," said to FOX News Cmdr. Marc Hines.
For his part, Capt. Will Toraason, commander of U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft, said to NBC that efforts are being made to "encourage a safe and professional encounter while we’re both operating in international airspace."
This event occurred a few weeks after the U.S. made the decision to shoot down a Chinese surveillance balloon which had been flying over U.S. territory for several days.
China openly criticized the U.S. decision noting that the shooting down of the flying object was a "hysterical" reaction and an "absurd" violation of international norms.
