China will continue to take “necessary measures” to “ensure its security” after the Pentagon said a Chinese fighter jet was performing maneuvers deemed unnecessary and aggressive to intercept a US spy plane.
“US intelligence operations have been going on for a long time and violate the security and sovereignty of China. These actions are a source of maritime security problems,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference.
Mao added that China will continue to “take all necessary measures” to “resolutely defend its sovereignty and security.”
In videos released by the US Indo-Pacific Command, a Chinese J-16 aircraft flies alongside an American RC-135 aircraft, which is normally used for surveillance.
The event occurred on May 26, when a Chinese pilot was well ahead of an RC-135 that was forced to fly through turbulence caused by a Chinese fighter.
According to the US, their aircraft “performed safe and routine operations in international airspace over the South China Sea in accordance with international law.”
In the same memo, the US Indo-Pacific Command assured that the US “will continue to fly, navigate and act safely and responsibly wherever international rules permit,” including in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tensions between the two countries have risen over US military support and arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, and the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in US airspace.
Beijing this week refused to meet representatives of the Ministry of Defense of China and the United States on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore.