Washington: The incident last week in which a Chinese plane crossed in front of an American surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea was blamed by Beijing on US "provocation" on Wednesday.
When questioned about the incident, spokeswoman for the foreign ministry Mao Ning said, "The United States' long-term and frequent sending of ships and planes to conduct close surveillance on China seriously harms China's national sovereignty and security," calling on Washington to "immediately stop this form of dangerous provocation."
The Chinese fighter jet approached a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea aggressively, according to the US military, forcing the American pilot to fly through its turbulent wake.
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The RC-135 was performing routine operations in international airspace last Friday when the Chinese J-16 fighter pilot "flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135," according to a statement from the US Indo-Pacific Command. The Chinese action was described as a "unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre."
US defence officials have expressed dissatisfaction over how China's military has escalated its aggression over the past five years, intercepting American ships and aircraft in the area. The United States' military assistance and sales of defensive weapons to Taiwan, China's claims of sovereignty over the disputed South China Sea, and its flying of a suspected spy balloon over the United States have all contributed to recent tensions with China.
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Further escalating the tense situation, China announced that its defence chief will not meet with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin this weekend when the two men travel to Singapore for a security conference. On Saturday, Austin is scheduled to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue; on Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will do the same.
The US was informed by China that it was declining Austin's invitation to meet while they were at the conference, according to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. He asserted that Beijing's "concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions" won't change the Defence Department's determination to pursue unimpeded channels of communication with the Chinese armed forces.
Tuesday's incident was attributed to the US, according to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry. She said that Washington should "truly respect China's sovereignty and security interests and concerns, immediately correct the wrongdoing, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries."
US Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a trip to the Indo-Pacific last summer that the number of Chinese ships and aircraft intercepting US and other ally forces in the Pacific has increased significantly since that time, as has the number of dangerous interactions.
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China frequently engages military aircraft from the US and its allies, particularly over the South China Sea, which China claims in its entirety and is of strategic importance. A 2001 in-flight collision caused by this behaviour resulted in the loss of a Chinese plane and the death of its pilot. Beijing frequently requests that American ships and aircraft leave the area because it deeply resents the presence of US military equipment there.
The United States will continue to "fly, sail, and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law allows," according to a statement released by the US Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday. It also expects all other nations to follow suit.
