U.S. Expresses ‘Concern’ for Chinese Fighter’s Action

Pentagon officials expressed concern to Chinese officials through diplomatic channels for an Aug. 19 incident, in which a Chinese fighter came dangerously close to a Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft. At one point during the encounter, the two planes were only 50 to 100 feet apart, the Defense Department stated. “The Chinese jet … passed the nose of the P-8 at 90 degrees with its belly toward [the Navy plane], we believe to make a point of showing its weapons load out,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. “This kind of behavior, not only is it unprofessional, it’s unsafe,” Kirby said. The Chinese government later denied that their pilot had done anything wrong.