A Chinese state-run documentary has aired a dramatic account of an aerial confrontation over the East China Sea, depicting a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pilot in a domestically built J-16 fighter jet engaging two unidentified foreign aircraft.
According to the documentary, the incident occurred late last year and involved Li Chao, an ace pilot with the PLA’s Western Theater Command. Li recounted how he scrambled his J-16 upon receiving an alarm and headed directly toward the unidentified aircraft. “Our territorial waters are behind us; we must stop them,” he was quoted as saying.
CCTV’s account included cockpit footage and reenacted scenes showing a near-touch dogfight, with Li maneuvering his jet within 10 to 15 meters (30–40 feet) of one of the foreign aircraft. The documentary claimed Li’s radar system successfully locked onto both opposing jets, forcing them to withdraw.
Although the program did not specify the nationality or type of the other fighters, Chinese media hinted they could have been U.S. stealth aircraft, such as the F-22 or F-35. The documentary also asserted that these jets had not returned to the area since the encounter.
However, military analysts have cautioned that the claims could not be independently verified. They noted that aerial confrontations are often interpreted differently by participants, and without multi-source sensor data, it is difficult to confirm what actually occurred.
The segment also highlighted China’s growing integrated air defense network, which reportedly included ground-based anti-stealth radar and airborne early-warning aircraft that helped track the intruding fighters. CCTV suggested that these systems reduced the stealth advantages of foreign aircraft operating near China’s coastline.
The J-16, a twin-engine, multi-role fighter derived from Russian designs but enhanced with Chinese technology, is often described domestically as a modern “fourth-generation” jet. CCTV credited both its advanced radar systems and pilot expertise as decisive in the confrontation.
As of now, there has been no official response from the United States or any other foreign military regarding the reported incident.
Experts note that military encounters in the region have increased in recent years, particularly near Taiwan and the East China Sea, as tensions between China, the U.S., Japan, and other regional powers escalate. Such encounters whether routine interceptions or reconnaissance operations are common globally but can become politically sensitive when publicized.
The timing of CCTV’s broadcast coincides with China’s broader emphasis on military modernization, improved pilot training, and advanced sensor development. It also reflects Beijing’s effort to showcase its growing confidence in defending its airspace amid an increasingly tense regional environment.