WASHINGTON

A Chinese fighter jet executed an "unsafe intercept" of a US Air Force B-52 aircraft over the South China Sea this week, nearly causing a collision, the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement Thursday.

The B-52 was lawfully conducting routine operations in international airspace, it said.

"During the night time intercept, the PRC pilot flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner, demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of collision," said the statement.

"We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision," it added.

The intercept occurred Tuesday at night, according to the Command.

More than 180 such interactions have occurred since the fall of 2021.

"The US will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international laws allow," it added.