US B-52 Bomber's Near Collision with Chinese Fighter Jet Heightens South China Sea Tensions

| 27 October 2023

| Christie Anto

In a concerning incident, a Chinese fighter jet came perilously close, within three meters (10 feet), of a US B-52 bomber during a night intercept over the South China Sea, prompting a sharp exchange of words between the two nations. The United States military, alarmed by the near-miss, released a statement underscoring the potential for a mishap, especially at a time when both nations are vying for influence in the region.

The US Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement on Thursday evening, describing the incident as nearly causing an accident. During the intercept, a Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter jet reportedly approached the US aircraft at an "uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of a collision," the statement warned. The US military expressed its concern, stating, "We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision."

China, however, pointed the finger at the United States, suggesting that the incident was a deliberate provocation. Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated, "The US military planes traveled thousands of miles to China's doorstep to flex muscle. That is the source of maritime and air security risks and is not conducive to regional peace and stability."

The US military defended its actions, asserting that the aircraft was "lawfully conducting routine operations" before the intercept occurred on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the statement did not disclose the exact nature of the B-52's mission over the South China Sea or whether it was part