China Releases Video Showing U.S. Warship's "Dangerous" Maneuvers Against PLA Vessel

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense released two videos Friday accusing the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) of engaging in close-in harassment of a PLA Navy task group during routine training in the South China Sea.

The Chinese military alleged that the U.S. vessel performed provocative maneuvers, including sharp turns, sudden acceleration and deceleration, and crossing the bow of the Chinese ship Guilin, coming as close as 670 meters. This act was said to violate international maritime regulations, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, and bilateral safety rules agreed upon by China and the U.S.

The videos were recorded by PLA Navy Task Group’s two ships Guilin and Huangshan in waters near “China’s Xisha Islands,” the ministry said.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the MND spokesperson, claimed during a press conference that the U.S. actions had endangered China's national security, and they would take necessary measures to safeguard their sovereignty.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has published video evidence of a Chinese J-11 fighter's intercept of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber, which they characterized as an "unsafe intercept." This incident took place on the night of October 24 and drew international attention due to the perceived risk of a collision. A 38-second video recording documents the close encounter between the Chinese fighter and the B-52, during which the former altered its course abruptly. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command expressed concerns about the safety of this encounter, highlighting what they regarded as risky maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, who came within a distance of just 10 feet from the B-52.

Tensions between the two nations in the region have been rising, with both sides sharing video evidence to support their claims.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's current visit to Washington for discussions with U.S. officials and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco add a diplomatic dimension to these tensions. China's territorial claims in the South China Sea continue to be a point of contention with the U.S. and its allies.