this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2023

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103

US military says Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of B-52 bomber over South China Sea (apnews.com)

submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

21 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the U.S. military said, underscoring the potential for a mishap as both countries vie for influence in the region.

In the night intercept, the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter closed on the U.S. Air Force plane 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 said in a statement released late Thursday.

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

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[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 3 points 11 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

BANGKOK (AP) — A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the U.S. military said, underscoring the potential for a mishap as both countries vie for influence in the region.

The U.S. military said in its statement that the aircraft was “lawfully conducting routine operations” ahead of the intercept Tuesday, but did not immediately respond to questions Friday about specifically what the B-52 was doing over the South China Sea or whether it was with a group of planes.

After a similar incident in May, the Chinese government dismissed American complaints and demanded that Washington end such flights over the South China Sea.

Following that incident, U.S. President Joe Biden renewed a warning that the U.S. would be obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, aircraft or vessels come under armed attack.

The U.S. and its allies regularly conduct maritime maneuvers in the South China Sea, and also routinely fly aircraft over the area to emphasize that the waters and airspace are international.

The original article contains 600 words, the summary contains 237 words. Saved 60%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[+] Numberone@startrek.website -33 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Imagine what the US would have done if a Russian nuclear capable bomber had been pstrolling the space between FL and Cuba at any point in our history? "Ahh they had bad manners around our death machine flying off their coast". Grasping jangoistic pearls. The entitled outrage of empire right here.

[–] krayj@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There's only 66 nautical miles of international water between FL and Cuba.

The South China Sea is 1.3 million square nautical miles.

You are a few orders of magnitude off for a rational comparison.

[–] Numberone@startrek.website -5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You're comparing linear distance to surface area of the south China sea. I'd be curious to know how close to Chinese airspace this bomber or group was flying. Fair enough though, if you think it's not analagous we could open it up to the entire gulf of Mexico/Caribbean. It seems pretty clear to me that Chinese aircraft in that area would result in a tantrum that would probably escallate beyond tailgating.

[–] krayj@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Yeah, I am comparing linear distance to surface area, but if we call that 66 mile distance a diameter, were talking about roughly 3500 sq miles...which is a rounding error compared to the vastness of the south china sea.

The south china sea is longer than it is wide, but even at its narrowest width between Phillipines and Vietnam, it's over 550 miles across. That's just incomparable to the distance between Florida and Cuba. Anything between Florida and Cuba is figuratively parked right in USA's backyard.

I legit tried to find the exact location of this latest aerial encounter between China fighter pilot and allied forces aircraft (because you're right, that's relevant) but couldn't find it...the info must either be classified or intentionally censored.

[–] remus989@sh.itjust.works 18 points 11 months ago

We know exactly what would happen if another country's nuclear capable bomber flew close to our coast. In fact, it happens all the time. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/02/14/air-force-jets-intercept-russian-aircraft-near-alaska/

[–] grozzle@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Whatabout if something imaginary?

[–] rbesfe@lemmy.ca 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

US fighter pilots are some of if not the most professional in the world. They would intercept it for sure, but at a safe distance and in a controlled manner.

[+] fluke@snake.substantialplumbing.repair -36 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Shoot them down.

[–] ours@lemmy.world 38 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Ah, because if there's something the World needs right now is more useless wars.

Thankfully you aren't in charge of diplomacy and started WWIII because a plane got close to another. But nice armchair "analysis" there.

[+] roo@lemmy.one -29 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Self own there. How would a simple jet fight create WWIII? It's unlikely. Dick move, but unlikely to tip anything more off than a tit for tat that that festers along.

Sure, it could be on if China wasn't so grossly inadequate, but they're not actually professing that much military capability at this point.

[+] Starglasses@lemmy.blahaj.zone 27 points 11 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

[removed by mod]

[+] roo@lemmy.one -10 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Thought the same thing, but that time was an absolute powderkeg of ballistic egos.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Right, cause that's not the case with the current geopolitical situation or anything. Except with nukes.

[–] roo@lemmy.one -2 points 11 months ago

There has to be an amount of disbelief with the proficiency of rocket propelled delivery at this point. Laser weaponry and current defence solutions would have to give you pause in believing you could mount a nuclear war against the US without becoming the nuclear wasteland yourself. And it requires the unnerving belief allies will equally join the attempt and have proficient weaponry.

China's going to look at the odds and think fuck that IMO.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

People aren’t all that different than they were 100 years ago. You think modern leaders aren’t ego drunk?

[–] TheBeege@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Don't dare say Winnie the Pooh in China, friend.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

This kind of shit happens all the time with patrol aircraft and bombers, we fly next to their waters, they intercept and make sure we aren't doing anything sketchy, then we move on.

It's the biggest game of "I'm not touching you" in the world and it's something that happens regularly. If we shot down every MiG that intercepted us we'd be on WW:VII by now.