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Agence France-Presse

Minnie Chan

Two Chinese fighter jets conducted what the United States said was an “unsafe” interception of an American spy plane over the East China Sea on Tuesday – the second close encounter within a month between the two air forces in the Asia-Pacific region.
The US Pacific Command spokesman Commander David Benham said two Chinese J-10 fighter jets had flown close to an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane, which was on a routine patrol.
“One of the intercepting Chinese jets had an unsafe excessive rate of closure on the RC-135 aircraft,” Benham said.
“Our initial assessment is that this seems to be a case of improper airmanship, as no other provocative or unsafe manoeuvres occurred,” he said.
Chinese warplane in ‘unsafe manoeuvre’ during interception of US reconnaissance aircraft: Pentagon
In a written response to the South China Morning Post, the defence ministry said the US claims were “deliberately sensationalised”.
“Chinese pilots always stick to relevant laws and regulations in their operations. They are professional and responsible,” the ministry said.

The incident came as US ­Secretary of State John Kerry and his Chinese counterparts wrapped up the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing.
Beijing and Washington offer differing versions of spy plane intercept in South China Sea
The two-day dialogue saw the countries reaffirm their commitment to promoting military-to-military relations.
A statement issued after the talks highlighted understandings reached last year between the two militaries on air-to-air encounters and crisis communications.
One of the intercepting Chinese jets had an unsafe excessive rate of closure on the RC-135 aircraft. Initial assessment is that this seems to be a case of improper airmanship, as no other provocative or unsafe manoeuvres occurred
Commander David Benham, US Pacific Command spokesman
However, just last month, the US military said Chinese J-11 jet fighters had flown within 15 metres of an EP-3 patrol aircraft over the South China Sea.
Beijing’s hospital construction on South China Sea island to finish in June amid heightened tensions with neighbours
China said the jets had kept a suitable distance from the US plane.
“The [understanding] on air-to-air encounters in 2015 has effectively [prevented a greater number of] so-called unsafe interceptions or flying incidents, as defined by the US military, from occurring,” Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said.
“But why have all the unsafe encounters happened in airspace near China’s territory and not [American territory]?
Washington keen to build ‘principled security network’ in Asia-Pacific, says US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter
“I think the US should also take a certain responsibility.”
China set up its first air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea in November 2013 to cover the Diaoyu Islands, know in Japan as the Senkakus.
Both China and Japan claim the uninhabited outcrops, but ­Tokyo controls them. The ADIZ triggered a backlash from Japan, South Korea and the US.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Air Defence Identification Zone

Two Chinese jets conduct ‘unsafe’ interception of US spy plane over East China Sea: Pentagon

A Chinese J-10 fighter aircraft takes off from an unidentified military base. File photo: Reuters

RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft moves into position behind a KC-135T/R Stratotanker for an aerial refueling at a speed greater than 250 knots over Southwest Asia. When connected to the refueling boom, the aircraft will receive more than 40,000 pounds of fuel allowing it to remain on station or move on to other stations to perform its mission. The RC-135 flightcrew of Capt. Mike Edmondson, pilot; 1st Lt. Erik Todoroff, copilot; and 1st Lt. Chris Young, navigator are deployed to the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, in Southwest Asia, from 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. They are natives of East Moline, Il., Jackson, Mich., and Charleston S.C.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

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Update | Two Chinese jets conduct ‘unsafe’ interception of US spy plane over East China Sea: Pentagon