Watch: Chinese fighter jet makes 'unnecessarily aggressive' move in front of US aircraft

A Chinese fighter pilot performed an "unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre" near a US Air Force surveillance aircraft operating in international airspace over the South China Sea, according to the US military.

The US Indo-Pacific Command released video footage of the incident, which it said happened on Friday, showing a Chinese J-16 jet flying directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence, and causing it to shake.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows, and the US Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law," INDOPACOM said in a statement.

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It is the latest in a number of similar encounters and comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.