World War III is coming: a dangerous shot from Chinese warplanes

A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet (about 3 meters) of a US B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing it to crash, the US military said, highlighting the potential for a setback as the two countries vie for influence. In the region. Region . .

The US Indo-Pacific Command said the twin-engine Shenyang J-11 fighter approached the US Air Force plane “at excessive and uncontrolled speed, flying below, in front of and within 10 feet of the B-52, causing both planes to crash to the ground.” In a statement issued Thursday evening, it was stated that this exposes them to the risk of collision.

“We are concerned that the pilot was not aware of how close he came to causing the plane to crash,” the military said.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not make a statement on this issue. A similar incident occurred in May, and the Chinese government rejected the US allegations and asked Washington to end such flights over the South China Sea.

While China has increasingly asserted its claims that much of the South China Sea is its territorial waters, the United States and other countries that use this vast region of ocean for shipping reject these claims.

My blood pressure has risen in the past week

These claims by China have led to long-standing territorial disputes with other countries in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes. Last week, a Chinese Coast Guard ship and an escort ship rammed a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a military-run supply boat off a disputed shoal in the waterway.

In the wake of this incident, President Joe Biden reiterated his warning that the United States will have to defend the Philippines, its oldest ally in Asia, if Philippine forces, aircraft or ships come under armed attack. He spoke during a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House on Wednesday.

China responded by saying that the United States had no right to interfere in Beijing’s disputes with Manila.

“The United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines should not harm China’s sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and should not support the Philippines’ illegal claims,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a press conference in Beijing. Thursday.

The United States and its allies conduct regular naval exercises in the South China Sea, and aircraft regularly fly over the region to emphasize that the waters and airspace are international.

The US military said the B-52 was “lawfully conducting routine operations in international airspace over the South China Sea” when the J-11 intercepted it on Tuesday.

The United States announced that there have been more than 180 such incidents since the fall of 2021. Experts stated that tensions between Beijing and Washington were already high, and said that such distortion could lead to an escalation of tensions.

release date: 09:06, 27 October 2023