A Chinese fighter jet came within 20 feet of a U.S. Air Force plane in the South China Sea last week, once again showing China’s aggressive military posture.
The U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft had to take evasive action on December 21 to avoid a collision with a Navy J-11 fighter jet from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“The PLAN pilot flew an unsafe maneuver by flying in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the RC-135 to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision,” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command reported, adding, “The U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force is dedicated to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law. We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command declared, “We have seen an alarming increase in the number of unsafe aerial intercepts and confrontations at sea by PLA aircraft and vessels. So this latest incident reflects a concerning trend of unsafe and dangerous intercept practices by the PLA that are of grave concern to the United States.”
Four days after the near-miss between the Chinese fighter jet and the American Air Force plane, 71 Chinese warplanes were detected flying around Taiwan, performing military exercises, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.
According to the PLA, China was conducting a “strike drill” in response to “provocations” and “collusion” between Taiwan and the U.S.
“71 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected in our surrounding region by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today,” the Taiwan Defense Ministry tweeted. “R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities.”
71 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected in our surrounding region by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/DagRhnN69F
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) December 26, 2022
In early November, Chinese Communist President Xi Jinping declared his country would focus on preparing for war, Express reported. The communist leader pointed to security concerns, claiming that it was “increasingly unstable and uncertain.”
“For years, Xi has been ratcheting up his rhetoric around the use of military force to reunify Taiwan with mainland China, and in response, the West has done very little,” Dr. Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told the Daily Mail. “Liberal Democracies must now take him at his word, and work collectively, using all means necessary to deter Xi from invading Taiwan.”
“As a priority, Western nations must begin the process of removing all Chinese influence from critical industries such as energy, water, and nuclear power,” Mendoza continued. “Next, we must immediately start the process of decoupling China from many of our most relied upon supply chain networks and develop new ones with like-minded partner nations.”
