Chinese Fighter Jet Flew 'Dangerously' Close To US Air Airforce Aircraft Over The South China Sea: US Command

In the December 21 incident, a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter pilot "performed an unsafe maneuver during an intercept of a United States Air Force RC-135 aircraft," according to a statement from the US Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday. The jet flew dangerously within 20 feet of the much larger US air force surveillance aircraft.

The Chinese fighter jet flew in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the US aircraft, "forcing the RC-135 to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision," the US Command said. The surveillance aircraft, "was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace."

US rejects China's claims to numerous small islands across the South China Sea, islands which are in waters claimed by other Southeast Asian countries.

The totalitarian regime in Beijing has increased its provocative military flights towards and over Taiwan, as US ramps up delivery of substantial military aid and advanced technologies to the small island nation to defend itself from any possible Chinese invasion.

China flew 71 warplanes, including dozens of fighter jets, during military exercises last weekend, around Taiwan which it claims to be part of China.