The US says the Chinese plane performed an “aggressive maneuver” during the interception

(AGENPARL) – ROME, May 31, 2023 — A Chinese J-16 fighter jet performs “unnecessarily aggressive maneuvers” during an interception, says the Pentagon.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that a Chinese J-16 fighter jet conducted an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” while intercepting a US surveillance plane in international airspace.

The incident occurred on Friday in the airspace over the South China Sea when a US RC-135 spy plane was intercepted by a J-16, which flew “straight in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US plane to circle in the wake of the turbulence,” US Regional Command said. Indo-Pacific Oceans.

“The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in compliance with international law,” he said.

The United States will continue to “fly, navigate, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law permits, and the Indo-Pacific Combined Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all ships and aircraft under international order We expect all nations of the Indo-Pacific region to use the space international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.

The Pentagon released a video of the interaction in which the Chinese jet can be seen flying alongside the RC-135 before it quickly swerved in front of the plane, causing the plane to bounce mid-flight in apparent turbulence.

China claims the entire South China Sea as its sovereign territory despite overlapping maritime claims with several territorial states.

Beijing’s allegations led to frequent clashes in the region between China and the countries of the region and the United States, which continues to implement what it calls “freedom of navigation” operations in the region.