By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - A Chinese J-16 fighter jet conducted an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" during an intercept of a US reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
The incident occurred last Friday in airspace above the South China Sea when the J-16 intercepted a US RC-135 spy plane, flying "directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence," US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
"The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law," it said.
The US "will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly 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," it added.
The Pentagon released video of the interaction in which the Chinese jet can be seen flying alongside the RC-135 before rapidly banking ahead of the plane, causing the aircraft to bounce mid-flight in apparent turbulence.
China claims the entire South China Sea as its sovereign territory despite overlapping maritime claims with several regional countries.
Beijing's claims have led to repeated confrontations in the region between China, regional nations and the US, which continues to carry out what it calls "freedom of navigation" operations in the region.