In this particular incident, the pilot and crew of the US aircraft were not at fault. The Chinese fighter crashed into them while they were 50 miles off the coast. One of the Chinese fighters was lost in the collision. It took the heroic efforts of the US commander to land his plane safely. I would consider what the Chinese did to be a hostile action.
Many expected that since he did have control of the craft that he would have dived into the water rather than giving it to the Chinese.
Someone on FR posted a memorial page for the Dead pilot during the time immediately after the incident. I know no Chinese language but probed the page until an email page poped up. I sent message: the the pilots flight instructor should have told him not to fly near large aircraft.
Someone posted a reply to me that I was engaging in a dangerous activity . Perhaps NSA.
I got a couple of replys from a China source.