A Chinese communist fighter jet buzzed a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft in international airspace last week, prompting the American spy plane to take evasive maneuvers.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a release on Thursday noting that a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter pilot came dangerously close to a USAF aircraft on Dec. 21 during an intercept over the South China Sea. The communist jet flew in front of and within 20 feet of the nose of the RC-135.