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Choi Chi-yuk

China and the United States have engaged in a war of words in the aftermath of a close encounter ­between two Chinese fighter jets and a US military reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.
In a statement, the Pentagon condemned the Chinese military for making an “unsafe” interception of the US aircraft while it was carrying out a “routine” patrol of the disputed waters on Tuesday. It said the plane was in international airspace at the time.
The foreign ministry in Beijing issued a strongly worded rebuke, denying the interception was ­unsafe and saying the close ­surveillance posed a security threat to China.

The US allegations are ­untrue,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
“The Chinese aircraft kept a safe ­distance.”
Hong said China had acted professionally and in accordance with the law. “The US’ moves seriously undermine China’s maritime security and we demand the US to immediately stop such ­surveillance,” Hong said. In another statement, the defence ministry said it was looking into the allegations and making an assessment of the situation. 
The Associated Press reported two Chinese J-11 jets flew out to intercept the EP-3 surveillance aircraft and came as close as about 15 metres to the plane, causing it to descend to avert a collision. The report added that the incident took place over the northern part of the sea.
The incident has triggered concerns over possible military clashes arising from such incidents. In April 2001, an intercept of a US EP-3 aircraft by a Chinese fighter jet resulted in a collision that killed pilot Wang Wei and forced the Americans to make an emergency landing in Hainan province.
In 2014, a Chinese fighter pilot flew acrobatic manoeuvres around a US spy plane.
‘Underwater Great Wall’: Chinese firm proposes building network of submarine detectors to boost nation’s defence
Both China and the US have over the years been working to minimise the risk of confrontations. The People’s Liberation Army’s Joint General Staff chief Fang Fenghui and his US counterpart, Joseph Dunford, last week pledged to improve communication.

The United States and China last year announced agreements on a military hotline and rules of behaviour to govern air-to-air ­encounters called the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES).
“This is exactly the type of ­irresponsible and dangerous intercepts that the air-to-air annex to CUES is supposed to prevent,” said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
China, US must manage risk of conflict in South China Sea constructively, says Beijing
But Ni Lexiong, a Shanghai-based military analyst, expected similar confrontations between China and the US would become more common.
“What the US aircraft has done is no different from an offence to China. The US side was spying under our noses after all, though it may have happened on the high seas,” Ni said.
The Pentagon statement said the US Department of Defence was addressing the latest incident through military and diplomatic channels.
Security vs economics: Asean countries stuck between US and China in South China Sea row
“Over the past year, the ­Department of Defence has seen improvements in PRC actions, ­flying in a safe and professional manner,” the Pentagon statement said, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
The latest intercept came ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to parts of Asia, beginning on Saturday,which will include the Group of Seven summit in Japan and a trip to Vietnam.
Washington has accused Beijing of militarising the South China Sea by creating artificial islands while Beijing, in turn, has criticised increased US naval patrols and exercises in Asia.
The Pentagon last month called on China to reaffirm that it had no plans to deploy military aircraft in the Spratly Islands after China used a military plane to evacuate sick workers from Fiery Cross Reef.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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South China Sea

Beijing and Washington offer differing versions of spy plane intercept in South China Sea

The incident involved a US EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft (seen above, in an undated photo) and two Chinese J-11 fighter jets, the Associated Press reported. Photo: EPA

***ONE TIME USE ONLY, PLEASE CLEAR THE COPYRIGHTS BEFORE RE-USE - OTUO*** Undated file photo of China air force J-11.

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A file picture of a PLA Navy submarine on patrol. Photo: Reuters

China, US must manage risk of conflict in South China Sea constructively, says Beijing

Beijing strongly protested after the US warship, the USS William P. Lawrence, sailed close to a reef controlled by China on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Fang Fenghui, Chief of the Headquarters of the General Staff, in Beijing. 10MAR13 == Photo by Simon Song ==

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee April 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on counter ISIL operations and Middle East strategy. Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Security vs economics: Asean countries stuck between US and China in South China Sea row

China's "Lanzhou" guided-missile destroyer, which took part in Asean maritime exercises in Brunei. Photo: Xinhua

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Pentagon reports that two Chinese fighter jets approached US military reconnaissance plane, coming as close as about 15 metres


.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Update | Beijing and Washington offer differing versions of spy plane intercept in South China Sea

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pentagon reports that two Chinese fighter jets approached US military reconnaissance plane, coming as close as about 15 metres

Update | Beijing and Washington offer differing versions of spy plane intercept in South China Sea

Pentagon reports that two Chinese fighter jets approached US military reconnaissance plane, coming as close as about 15 metres