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Chinese fighter jet performs 'dangerous' aerial stunts close to American patrol plane | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Pentagon has launched a diplomatic protest with Beijing after a Chinese fighter pilot flew perilously close to a Navy patrol plane, at one point performing a barrel roll over the top of it. | The Pentagon has launched a diplomatic protest with Beijing after a Chinese fighter pilot flew perilously close to a Navy patrol plane, at one point performing a barrel roll over the top of it. |
The incident took place in international airspace 135 miles (215km) east of Hainan Island, the site of a Chinese submarine base, on Tuesday - with the Su-27 fighter jet making several passes at the P-8 Poseidon plane. | The incident took place in international airspace 135 miles (215km) east of Hainan Island, the site of a Chinese submarine base, on Tuesday - with the Su-27 fighter jet making several passes at the P-8 Poseidon plane. |
At one point the two craft flew wingtip-to-wingtip, with the jet passing over and under the larger plane and in front of its nose in what the US claims was the pilot “making a point” of showing its weapons load. | At one point the two craft flew wingtip-to-wingtip, with the jet passing over and under the larger plane and in front of its nose in what the US claims was the pilot “making a point” of showing its weapons load. |
Rear Admiral John Kirby, press secretary to the US Department of Defense, labelled it a “dangerous intercept”, and lodged the complaint on Friday. | Rear Admiral John Kirby, press secretary to the US Department of Defense, labelled it a “dangerous intercept”, and lodged the complaint on Friday. |
He said: “This kind of behaviour not only is unprofessional, it's unsafe and it is certainly not in keeping with the kind of military-to-military ... relations that we'd like to have with China.“ | He said: “This kind of behaviour not only is unprofessional, it's unsafe and it is certainly not in keeping with the kind of military-to-military ... relations that we'd like to have with China.“ |
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said the incident was "unsafe" and "unprofessional" ( The Obama administration also condemned the incident, with Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes calling it a ”deeply concerning provocation”. | Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said the incident was "unsafe" and "unprofessional" ( The Obama administration also condemned the incident, with Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes calling it a ”deeply concerning provocation”. |
He said: “What we've encouraged is constructive military-to-military ties with China and this type of action ... clearly violates the spirit of that engagement, and we've made our concerns known directly to Beijing.” | He said: “What we've encouraged is constructive military-to-military ties with China and this type of action ... clearly violates the spirit of that engagement, and we've made our concerns known directly to Beijing.” |
A similar incident in April 2001 saw a Chinese F-8 fighter pilot killed in collision with a US spy plane after making an aggressive intercept in the same area. | A similar incident in April 2001 saw a Chinese F-8 fighter pilot killed in collision with a US spy plane after making an aggressive intercept in the same area. |
The American pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan where the plane’s 24 crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologised for the incident. | The American pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan where the plane’s 24 crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologised for the incident. |
Last year China imposed an air defence identification zone in the East China Sea which requires aircraft entering the region to identify themselves and report flight plans to Chinese authorities. | Last year China imposed an air defence identification zone in the East China Sea which requires aircraft entering the region to identify themselves and report flight plans to Chinese authorities. |
Washington has criticised the move and the US military has ignored the requirements. Japan and South Korea have also rejected the zone. | Washington has criticised the move and the US military has ignored the requirements. Japan and South Korea have also rejected the zone. |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |