US Department of Defense releases declassified images and videos of coercive and risky Chinese jet fighter pilots' behavior.

The Department of Defense on October 17 released a collection of declassified images and videos depicting 15 recent cases of coercive and risky operational behavior by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) against U.S. aircraft operating lawfully in international airspace in the East and South China Sea regions.

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PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 40 feet before repeatedly flying above and below the U.S. aircraft and flashing its weapons. After the U.S. operator radioed the PLA fighter jet, the PLA pilot responded using explicit language, including an expletive (Picture source: Indo-Pacom courtesy)

Ahead of the anticipated release of the congressionally-mandated 2023 Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, or "China Military Power Report (CMPR)," the images and videos published by the Department underscore key findings in the forthcoming document about an increasing trend of coercive and risky operational behavior by the PLA since the fall of 2021. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and other officials across the Department have previously raised their concerns about this behavior in a range of settings, including during the Secretary's engagements in 2021 and 2022 with General Wei Fenghe, then-Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as well as the Secretary's public remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2022 and 2023.

The declassified images and videos were captured during lawful U.S. air operations, during which PLA operators engaged in coercive and risky activities, including reckless maneuvers, close approaches at high speeds in the air, releasing objects and projectiles like flares, and other dangerous behavior.

For decades, the United States has flown, sailed, and operated in the region – safely, responsibly, and in accordance with international law. Allies and partners welcome U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific because it advances a shared regional vision of peace and security. This common vision, which Secretary Austin described at the Shangri-La Dialogue this year, is one of respect for sovereignty; adherence to international law; belief in transparency and openness; freedom of commerce and navigation; equal rights for all states; and the resolution of disputes through peaceful dialogue – not coercion or conquest. By contrast, the PLA's coercive and risky behavior seeks to intimidate and coerce members of the international community into giving up their rights under international law.

January 11, 2022: Images newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea. The PLA fighter crossed in front of the U.S. aircraft at a distance of 100 yards, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through the PLA plane's wake turbulence.

April 29, 2022: Images and video newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea. Over the course of five hours, four PLA aircraft conducted this intercept, at one point reaching a distance of just 75 feet from the U.S. plane.

May 24, 2022: Images and video newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea. The PLA fighter jet first sped toward the U.S. asset and crossed under the plane's nose, causing the U.S. aircraft to lose visual contact of the PLA fighter. After the U.S. pilot opened some distance between the two planes, the PLA pilot re-approached at a distance of just 15 feet laterally and 10 feet below the U.S. plane.

June 8, 2022: Images newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea. Over the course of five hours, four PLA aircraft conducted this intercept, including by approaching a distance of just 40 feet and taking pictures of the U.S. plane.

June 23, 2022: Images and video newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 40 feet before repeatedly flying above and below the U.S. aircraft and flashing its weapons. After the U.S. operator radioed the PLA fighter jet, the PLA pilot responded using explicit language, including an expletive.

December 21, 2022: A video released by USINDOPACOM in December 2022 captures a PLA fighter jet performing an unsafe maneuver against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea. The PLA operator flew in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the U.S. plane, forcing the U.S. aircraft to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.

January 11, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet in the course of conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 30 feet from the U.S. plane.

February 7, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 20 feet from the U.S. plane.

February 15, 2023: An image and video newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 70 feet from the U.S. plane.

March 2, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 50 feet from the U.S. plane.

May 25, 2023: A video released by USINDOPACOM in May 2023 captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea. The PLA operator flew in front of the nose of the U.S. plane, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through the PLA plane's wake turbulence.

June 11, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 25 feet from the U.S. plane.

July 12, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the East China Sea, including by deploying eight flares at a distance of 900 feet from the U.S. plane.

August 10, 2023: Images newly released by the Department capture a PLA fighter jet performing a coercive and risky maneuver by closing in at a high speed to a distance of just 50 feet underneath the wing of a U.S. aircraft. The PLA operator then conducted a barrel roll around and below the U.S. aircraft, causing the U.S. pilot to perform defensive procedures to prevent a collision.

September 21, 2023: A video newly released by the Department captures a PLA fighter jet conducting a coercive and risky intercept against a lawfully operating U.S. asset in the South China Sea, including by approaching a distance of just 50 feet from the U.S. plane.

The images and videos released today depict what the Department's forthcoming report to Congress will describe as "unsafe, unprofessional, and other behaviors that seek to impinge upon the ability of the United States and other nations to safely conduct operations where international law allows." Additionally, the 2023 CMPR will find that "the goal of the PLA's behavior is to pressure the United States and other nations to reduce or cease lawful operations near areas where Beijing claims territorial sovereignty."

The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows, and the Department continues to believe in the importance of open lines of military-to-military communication with the PLA at multiple levels, including the senior-most levels.