The U.S. Department of Defense has recently declassified photos and videos that showcase a series of “coercive and risky” intercepts of American military aircraft by Chinese jets over the past two years. These incidents, officials say, have seen a significant increase. The Pentagon’s release of this information comes just a day after a Chinese military jet aggressively intercepted a Canadian Armed Forces Aurora aircraft in international airspace near China’s coast.
These intercepts occurred during Operation NEON, where Canada is contributing to the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea. While reporting on the mission, Global News was present on the Canadian military aircraft when the aggressive intercepts took place in international airspace.
During a press conference at the Pentagon, Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, revealed that there have been over 180 intercepts by Chinese aircraft of U.S. military planes in the past two years, surpassing the number from the previous decade. Ratner also pointed out that when including intercepts by China’s People’s Liberation Army against other states, the number increases to nearly 300 cases within the last two years.
The Pentagon has described the activities of the Chinese pilots as involving reckless maneuvers, close approaches at high speeds, the release of objects like flares, and other dangerous behavior. Ratner emphasized that this type of operational behavior can lead to accidents and even unintentional conflicts.
The newly released images depict a PLA fighter jet conducting coercive and risky intercepts against U.S. assets in the South China Sea and East China Sea on various dates in 2022 and 2023. These interceptions involve the PLA fighters crossing dangerously close to the U.S. aircraft, flying around and below them, and even flashing their weapons. One incident even involved the use of explicit language by a PLA pilot.
The pictures and videos released by the U.S. Department of Defense date back to January 2022, but the number of intercepts reported by the Pentagon are up until the present day. They were released ahead of an upcoming annual report on China’s military power and the security threats it poses to partners in the Indo-Pacific.
While most intercepts by Chinese jets towards the Canadian aircraft were considered professional, the last jet, armed with air-to-air missiles, displayed aggressive behavior, flying back and forth in close proximity and attempting to put the Canadian plane in its blind spot. This escalation of aggressiveness is a cause for concern for the Canadian Forces, who aim to avoid such risky interactions.
Monday’s intercept also involved the Chinese jet launching firework-like flares near the Canadian aircraft. It occurred after the crew lost contact with their base due to a communications glitch. These aggressive intercepts follow a similar incident where a Chinese warship nearly collided with the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon during a joint Canada-U.S. mission through the Taiwan Strait in June 2023.
The Canadian mission’s goal is to prevent illegal oil shipments to North Korea. During this operation, the crew identified a “vessel of interest.” However, Major-General Iain Huddleston emphasized that the mission’s objective is to enforce a United Nations resolution, not to act against China. Huddleston expressed concerns over the heightened risks associated with these aggressive intercepts and the desire to avoid any situations that could lead to loss of life.
China opposes any actions that jeopardize its national sovereignty and security, claiming that they are disguised as resolutions. Beijing has urged Canada to consider the severity of the incident and refrain from making any adventurous or provocative moves.
In conclusion, the U.S. Department of Defense’s release of declassified photos and videos highlights the increasing number of aggressive intercepts of American military aircraft by Chinese jets over the past two years. These intercepts have raised concerns about potential accidents and unintended conflicts. The Canadian Forces have also faced similar intercepts, with one instance involving an armed Chinese jet displaying aggressive behavior. China has called for restraint from Canada, emphasizing its opposition to actions that threaten its sovereignty and security.
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