A Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet is recorded flying close to a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft in international airspace over the South China Sea, according to the US military, in a still image from video taken December 21, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS)

The close encounter followed what the United States has called a recent trend of increasingly dangerous behavior by Chinese military aircraft.

The incident, which involved a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet and a US air force RC-135 aircraft, took place on Dec. 21, the US military said in a statement.

The US military said it expects all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.

The United States has raised the issue with the Chinese government, a separate US official said.