The United States charged Friday that a Chinese war plane made a “dangerous intercept” of a US Navy aircraft over international waters this week in the South China Sea.
The US has registered “strong concerns” with the Chinese government about “unsafe and unprofessional” conduct by its air force that put the safety of the US crew at risk, said Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman.
The incident happened Tuesday, within 220 kilometres east of China’s Hainan Island, Kirby said.
The Chinese war plane made several passes around the US Navy’s Poseidon 8 plane, coming at one point within 9 metres of the P8’s wing.
The Chinese plane passed the nose of the P8 at a 90-degree angel, showing its belly and most likely its weapons load, Kirby said, and conducted a barrel roll over the top of the P8 at 15 metres.
“This kind of behaviour is not only unprofessional. It’s unsafe,” Kirby said. “It undermines efforts to continue developing military to military relations with the Chinese military.” Kirby said he was not aware of any radio communications from the Chinese plane before the intercept.
“The message we are sending back to China is that it is unacceptable,” Kirby said.
Deputy White House national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the move was a “deeply concerning provocation”.
“We have communicated directly to the Chinese government our objection to this type of action,” Mr Rhodes said.
Source: DPA