Exciting moment: Chinese fighter jet “nearly collides” with US B-52 bomber just 30 feet over South China Sea, sparking US fury

The US military announced that a Chinese aircraft came dangerously close to a US bomber over the South China Sea earlier this week.

The revelation, made by the US Indo-Pacific Command in a statement on Thursday, is part of what US officials have described as increasingly risky behavior by Chinese military aircraft.

The US military criticized both the pilot and the maneuver, claiming it put both pilots in unnecessary danger – citing footage showing the Chinese J-11 jet coming within 10 feet of the B-52 on Tuesday – the plane approached.

Officials also said that the US Air Force B-52 was lawfully conducting routine missions over international waters in the South China Sea when the identified Chinese aircraft approached “at excessive speed”.

The PRC pilot then “flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner and demonstrated poor flying skills by … flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, thereby placing both aircraft at risk of collision.” said the pilot. statement said.

The People’s Republic of China’s twin-engine J-11 fighter jet (file photo)

According to US military officials, the Chinese J-11 fighter jet came just meters away from colliding with a US B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea.

“We are concerned that this pilot did not know how close he was to a collision,” officials said – suggesting the incident was likely an accident.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon said Chinese military aircraft had conducted maneuvers near US aircraft nearly 200 times since 2021, further escalating already heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Just last week, China’s Ministry of Defense responded to these allegations, insisting in a statement that the Pentagon’s criticism of its airstrikes is a deliberate slander against China – a slander with ulterior motives.

Relations between China and the United States are already strained, and recent close talks have not helped.

Tensions between the world’s two largest economies – from the human rights record of Taiwan and China to military activity in the South China Sea – threaten to completely end the two countries’ tumultuous relations, with several wars currently raging abroad that continue to unsettle strengthen.

However, Washington still expressed a desire to revive military communications with China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began a long-awaited visit to Washington on Thursday as the United States and China seek to navigate deep strategic differences and pave the way for an expected summit between President Joe Biden and his counterpart Xi Jinping .

Yesterday, at a White House dinner, Biden warned visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be careful about trusting China – as Australia also seeks to restore ties with the communist country.

In recent years, tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China have increased in the South China Sea region

The disclosure, announced in a statement by the US Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday, is part of what US officials have described as increasingly risky behavior by Chinese military aircraft.

Officials also said that the US Air Force B-52 was lawfully conducting routine missions over international waters in the South China Sea when the identified Chinese aircraft approached “at excessive speed”.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon said Chinese military aircraft had conducted maneuvers near US aircraft nearly 200 times since 2021.

The president made the comments this week during Albanese’s visit to Washington DC, days before the prime minister’s visit to Beijing.

Biden was asked at a joint news conference with Albanese whether he thought Australia should trust China given its history of economic sanctions, cyber attacks, surveillance and human rights abuses.

“Trust but verify is the expression,” the president replied.

“China currently has its own internal and external problems.

“China’s economic growth is stagnating compared to before. “China has engaged in activities that Russia and many others have engaged in, which is to intimidate other countries.”

Biden also warned China about recent harassment of Philippine ships in the South China Sea.

“Any attack on Philippine aircraft, ships or forces would invoke our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines,” he said.

“I want to be very clear. The United States’ defense commitments to the Philippines are rock solid.”

In 2021, President Biden established a trilateral security alliance called AUKUS, which includes Australia and the United Kingdom.

This partnership will allow the United States to provide Australia with nuclear technology to be used to power traditionally armed Australian submarines.

President Biden said he is ‘confident’ Congress will fund AUKUS.

“It’s overwhelmingly in our best interest,” he said.

“When we made the deal, I was asked by Xi Jinping if we were just trying to encircle China. I said, “No, we’re not encircling China.” “We’re just keeping the shipping lanes open.”

“He cannot unilaterally change the rules of the road when it comes to what international air and water space means and so on. And that’s what it’s all about.’

Earlier during the visit, Biden said the Chinese leader asked him why the US was working “so hard” with Australia.

“I said, ‘Because we’re a Pacific nation,'” President Biden said.

“This is who we are and this is who we will remain.”