A Chinese fighter defies the Pentagon and passes just three meters from an American B-52 "at an excessive and uncontrolled speed"

The United States Army has reported that a Chinese fighter jet came within just three meters of a US Air Force B-52 bomber this Tuesday, which was flying over the South China Sea.

Both countries published the images this Thursday. Using them as evidence, they accuse each other of carrying out provocative maneuvers in the aforementioned sea and its surroundings and of further straining the rope of the river conflict.

The Pentagon reports that the Asian troops have advanced at an “excessive and uncontrolled speed, flying below, in front of and over 10 feet of the B-52, putting both planes at risk of a collision.”

The United States has blamed the driver for having flown “in an unsafe and unprofessional manner”, demonstrating “poor aerial skill.” “We are concerned that this pilot was not aware of how close he came to causing a collision,” lamented the Indo-Pacific Command in a statement this Thursday.

The event occurred at night, with limited visibility, and according to the command, it contravened international air safety rules and regulations. The military institution maintains that since autumn 2021, there have been 180   “interactions” like this.

The Chinese version

Although China has not yet defended itself against the US accusation, in previous maritime tensions with the Westerners, the accusations are always crossed. T he spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Wu Qian, in statements reported by CNN, called the North American country “the real provocative, risk-taking and disruptive side.”

Furthermore, Wu threatened to take action against the Americans if the excessive American presence around the South China Sea continued: “China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty.”

This new episode coincides with the meeting of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in Washington, to try to channel the relationship between both powers and prepare a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November.