A Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet came within three meters of a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, forcing it to maneuver to avoid a collision in international airspace.

This is stated in the published statement of the US Indo-Pacific Command. 

The incident occurred on December 21 over the South China Sea.

The Chinese fighter pilot executed a dangerous maneuver, forcing the RC-135, which was legitimately conducting routine operations, to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.

The PRC warplane is said to have come within 10 feet (3 meters) of the US plane's wing and less than 20 feet (6 meters) from the plane's nose.

#WATCH: On Dec.

21 (China Standard Time), a People's Liberation Army - Navy J-11 fighter pilot performed an unsafe maneuver during an intercept of a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft, which was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace pic .twitter.com/jN4T3jVX1f

— Video Forensics (@Video_Forensics) December 30, 2022

"The U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and will continue to fly, sail, and operate at sea and in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft in accordance with international law. We expect that all countries of the Indo-Pacific region will use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law," the statement said.

According to Reuters, the United States has reported the problem to the Chinese government. 

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It will be recalled that on Sunday, December 25, the Chinese armed forces conducted naval and air exercises near Taiwan.

Their holding was motivated by an unspecified "provocation" by Taiwan and the United States.

Read also:

  • With aviation and missile and artillery fire: the Russian Federation and China conduct naval exercises 

  • Taiwan reported China's biggest incursion into an air defense zone

  • China once again called Russia's war in Ukraine a "crisis" and declared "friendly cooperation" with Moscow