Newly declassified footage released through the Department of Defense's defense visual information distribution service shows a Chinese fighter jet flashing its weapons at an American aircraft operating lawfully and legally in the airspace of the South China Sea.

According to the report, the Chinese aircraft flew within 40 feet of the American aircraft and flashed its weapons at the American aircrew multiple times. When the pilot of the American aircraft was finally able to get the PLA pilot over the radio, the Chinese pilot responded with explicit language, and nothing else. This video was just recently declassified as part of a package including 14 other videos of provocative Chinese behavior in the South China Sea.

In another incident, a Chinese aircraft flew 25 feet in front of an American aircraft and rapidly slowed forcing the American to take evasive action for avoid a collision with the Chinese pilot. The video from that event is not nearly as clear as this.

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Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com