A newly released video has captured the tense moments of a close aerial encounter between a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) helicopter and a foreign military helicopter conducting a provocative maneuver near China's airspace over the Taiwan Straits. The footage shows a dramatic real-life confrontation that underscores the PLA's resolve in safeguarding national sovereignty.

According to the video released by the CCTV military channel on Friday on the occasion of the PLA 98th birthday celebration, the incident began when a foreign warship transited through the Taiwan Straits and deployed a shipborne helicopter that approached Chinese airspace in a deliberate provocation. In response, the PLA dispatched an attack helicopter from a brigade under an army aviation brigade to intercept and drive away the intruding aircraft.

Kong Xianghui, the pilot who led the intercept, issued a stern audio warning: "This is the PLA Air Force. You are about to intrude into China's airspace. Leave immediately. I repeat, leave immediately."

Kong recalled the confrontation, stating, "After flying out to intercept, we entered a standoff position. We were locked in a deadlock for over an hour before the other side briefly disappeared into the clouds."

However, the foreign helicopter then made a sudden aggressive move toward the PLA aircraft, closing the distance to less than 500 meters. The potential collision window was less than three seconds.

"The enemy won't press pause. Even if it costs my life, I must hold that three-second line!" Kong emphasized. He added, "At less than 500 meters, they backed off."

The foreign helicopter eventually retreated, and the confrontation ended without escalation.

"I represent the Chinese soldier. National sovereignty is inviolable," Kong declared.

Beyond the encounter, Kong has been deeply involved in enhancing the PLA's air assault capabilities. He has led experimental live-fire tests under low-altitude, high-speed conditions to refine the battlefield applications of various missile systems.

"We train for the extreme. We fight for the extreme," Kong said. "Each breakthrough is not an end, but the start of a new mission."