Zoom Image
Shot from the cockpit of the U.S. aircraft (U.S. Navy image)
Photo: AP
Again and again, there are incidents between opposing forces in and over the South China Sea. In the current case, a Chinese fighter jet and a US reconnaissance aircraft were involved. The U.S. Pacific Command accused the Chinese pilot on Tuesday of an "unnecessarily aggressive" interception maneuver.
The incident had already occurred last Friday. The U.S. RC-135 aircraft performed a "safe and routine mission over the South China Sea in international airspace," according to the U.S. Pacific Command.
The Chinese pilot flew his fighter jet right under the nose of the U.S. plane, forcing it to fly through the wake vortex of the Chinese jet. These are invisible turbulences that can be dangerous for following aircraft. "We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law," it added. The U.S. also released a video of the incident.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea for itself. However, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also claim territories there.
The U.S. and China's neighbors accuse Beijing of increasing militarization of the region. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected the territorial claims in 2016. China, however, is ignoring the ruling.
Many issues of contention between Beijing and Washington
Relations between the US and China are at an all-time low. Above all, China's backing for Russia's war in Ukraine, its claims in the South China Sea or the unchanged trade war with reciprocal punitive tariffs are causing controversy.
The U.S. has many allies in the Pacific and is expanding its military presence in the area. Most recently, it became known that the United States will gain access to four more military bases in the Philippines. Washington wants to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific.
jok/dpa