The Pentagon said that a Chinese fighter jet conducted a "dangerous intercept" of a US Navy aircraft three days ago off the coast of China in international airspace.
The Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said today that Washington has lodged a protest to China through diplomatic channels.
Kirby said the Chinese jet made several close passes by the Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, coming within 30 feet (10 meters) of it.
He said the Chinese jet did a roll maneuver over the top of the Poseidon and also passed across the nose of the Navy plane, exposing the belly of the fighter in a way apparently designed to show that it was armed.
Kirby said it happened about 135 miles (215 kilometers) east of Hainan Island.
