China warned the United States to stay away from the Chinese airspace amid the growing tensions between the two countries.
On Friday, the crew aboard a Chinese fighter jet ordered the United States Navy surveillance pilot to move away from the Chinese airspace.
In a report published by the New York Post, it was revealed that “The US aircraft was 30 miles outside Chinese airspace over the South China Sea but was warned to get back by an operative of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who addressed the US pilot in a radio call whose reporter was aboard the US plane at the time of the encounter.”
In the voice over the radio, the PLA operative can be heard, telling the American aircraft, “Chinese airspace is 12 nautical miles. Not approaching anymore or you bear all responsibility.”
In response to the order, Lt. Nikki Slaughter, who was piloting the US Navy P-8 aircraft at that time reacted immediately to the radio transmission while a Chinese jet armed with air-to-air missiles came up alongside them.
“PLA fighter aircraft, this is the US Navy P-8A. I have you off my left wing and I intend to proceed to the west. I request that you do the same, over.” Slaughter told the operator.
“US aircraft. US aircraft. This is Chinese naval warship 173. You are approaching to me at low altitude. State your intention over,” the voice added on the radio.
Slaughter responded, telling the Chinese jet that she would keep a safe distance, but the Chinese ship countered, “US aircraft. US aircraft. This is the Chinese naval warship 173. You are clearly endangering my safety. You are clearly endangering my safety.”
“I am a United States military aircraft. I will maintain a safe distance from your unit,” Slaughter replied.
In an interview with CNN after the incident, Navy Commander Marc Hines, head of the US Navy mission at Kadena Air Base, Japan released a statement, downplaying the incident and described it as “another Friday afternoon in the South China Sea.”
“But later in the mission over another part of the disputed region, near the Philippines, Slaughter’s plane spotted a PLA Navy guided-missile destroyer warship. When Slaughter descended to 1,000 feet to have a closer look, she received further warnings,” the report added.
