A Chinese military aircraft came to a head-on collision with a US jet over the South China Sea last week – the worst ever mid-air crash could be averted by the American Jet’s unsafe evasive but timely manoeuvres, the US military reported.
The incident is purported to have occurred on December 21, when a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet came within 3 meters of US RC-135 aircraft, a US Air Force reconnaissance plane with about 30 people on board, the Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement on Thursday.
International Airspace Safety Policy in Indo-Pacific Region
It is expected that all countries in the Indo-Pacific region use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law, but the Chinese aircraft’s non-adherence to such laws might have ended in a major disaster.
The Indo-Pacific command is responsible for control and monitoring of US military operations in the disputed South China Sea region.
Was it a Chinese bullying tactics?
The Chinese jet executed an “unsafe movement”, forcing the US jet to take evasive measures to avoid the crash. The US military agency also shared a video of the Chinese jet getting into close proximity to the US reconnaissance aircraft.
A US military spokesperson reported that the Chinese jet came within 10 feet of the plane’s wing, but 20 feet from its nose.“The RC-135 was in international airspace over the South China Sea and was lawfully conducting routine operations,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the United States has raised the issue through diplomatic and military channels via specific lines of communication with the Chinese government.
“The U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Operational Force has been granted a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with due diligence for the safety of all the vessels and aircraft under international law,” the statement said.
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China’s illegitimate claims over South China Sea is the apple of discord
Chinaon its part has been vehemently claiming the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters, though the US does not recognise these territorial claims and routinely conducts operations there. China has antagonised many in this region with its dubious and frivolous claims. Vietnam is a regular victim of Chinese illegitimate claims and aggressions.
It has been vying for freedom of navigation operations through the South China Sea and regularly engages with countries in the Indo-Pacific region to press with its objective.
A major clash between the two warring countries averted
Although the crash has been averted, if it happened – we would have witnessed an escalation of a major conflict between the two warring countries. It is not yet ascertained whether the incident was intentional or accidental, whether it was intended for bullying the US – but the Americans must have taken it with utmost disconcert.
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