A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flies throughout the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2023 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, South Korea, on Oct. 17, 2023.

AP

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AP

A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flies throughout the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2023 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, South Korea, on Oct. 17, 2023.

AP

BANGKOK — A Chinese fighter jet got here inside 10 toes of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, practically inflicting an accident, the U.S. navy mentioned, underscoring the potential for a mishap as each nations vie for affect within the area.

In the night time intercept, the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter closed on the U.S. Air Force aircraft at an “uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of a collision,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command mentioned in an announcement launched late Thursday.

“We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision,” the navy mentioned.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, however in the same incident in May, the Chinese authorities dismissed American complaints and demanded that Washington finish such flights over the South China Sea.

China has been more and more assertive in advancing its claims on a lot of the South China Sea as its territorial waters, a place rejected by the U.S. and different nations that use the huge expanse of ocean for delivery.

China’s claims have led to longstanding territorial disputes with different nations within the South China Sea, one of many world’s busiest commerce routes. A Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel last week rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run supply boat off a contested shoal within the waterway.

Following that incident, President Joe Biden renewed a warning that the U.S. could be obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, plane or vessels come underneath armed assault. He spoke in a information convention with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday on the White House.

China reacted by saying the U.S. has no proper to intervene in Beijing’s disputes with Manila.

“The U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, nor should it support the illegal claims of the Philippines,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned Thursday in a information convention in Beijing.

The U.S. and its allies usually conduct maritime maneuvers within the South China Sea, and in addition usually fly plane over the world to emphasise that the waters and airspace are worldwide.

The B-52 was “lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace” when it was intercepted by the J-11 on Tuesday, the U.S. navy mentioned.

Intercepts are frequent, with the U.S. saying that there have been greater than 180 such incidents because the fall of 2021.

They aren’t typically as shut as Tuesday’s incident, nevertheless, and with tensions already excessive between Beijing and Washington, a collision would have had the potential to result in an escalation.

The U.S. navy mentioned in its assertion that the incident is not going to change its strategy.

“The U.S. will continue to fly, sail and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international laws allow,” the navy mentioned.