In a tit-for-tat response, China's state media has released footage countering the recent U.S. military claims of aggressive behavior by People's Liberation Army (PLA) pilots. The move comes after the U.S. Department of Defense unveiled declassified videos and photos showing what they allege are dangerous maneuvers by PLA fighter jets in the South China Sea.

According to Newsweek, China Central Television (CCTV) released videos on Sunday, starting with footage of the USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, allegedly engaging in dangerous interference with Chinese naval vessels in the South China Sea on August 19. The video claims that the American destroyer disrupted Chinese naval training, despite the Chinese warship appearing to turn towards the U.S. vessel.

China asserts its sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including areas within the exclusive economic zones of neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. Although an international arbitral court rejected China's claim in 2016, Beijing continues to disregard the ruling.

Another footage released by CCTV showcases an alleged intrusion by the USS Milius, another U.S. destroyer, into China's territorial waters near the Paracel Islands in March. The Chinese video accuses the USS Milius of invading China's waters, ignoring Vietnam's claim to these islands as well.

The third clip, dated December 21, 2022, captures a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft flying closely behind and to the right of a Chinese fighter jet near the contested Paracel Islands. Due to the limited information provided in the footage, it is uncertain which aircraft initiated the approach.

According to the Pentagon's upcoming 2023 China Military Power Report, there have been over 180 incidents of "coercive and risky air intercepts" against U.S. aircraft in the region, surpassing the total occurrences of the previous decade. The report also notes 100 similar episodes involving U.S. allies and partners, all of which violate flight safety protocols.

In an unrelated incident on Sunday, a Philippine supply boat and a coast guard cutter collided with a Chinese coast guard ship and Maritime Militia vessel, respectively. The collision occurred as the Chinese ships attempted to prevent the resupply of a Philippine-occupied shoal in the Spratly Islands. China claims that the Philippines ignored repeated warnings to leave Chinese waters, while Philippine authorities report no casualties and are assessing the damage.

Additionally, a Canadian military patrol aircraft monitoring international waters to enforce U.N. Security Council sanctions was intercepted by a Chinese fighter last week. The Chinese aircraft allegedly conducted multiple close-proximity maneuvers, endangering the safety of all personnel involved.

Newsweek has reached out to both the U.S. Department of Defense and the Chinese foreign ministry for comment on these recent developments. The ongoing tensions in the South China Sea continue to raise concerns about maritime security as rival claims persist among several nations in the region.