Chinese, US aircraft in 'unsafe' encounter

Washington : A Chinese military aircraft had an "unsafe" encounter with a US Navy surveillance aircraft near a contested reef in the South China Sea, the US Pacific Command said Friday.

The two planes came within 1,000 feet (300 meters) of each other during Wednesday's incident near the Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by both the Philippines and China, according to Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis.

The close encounter comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's moves to establish a presence in disputed areas of the South China Sea by building reefs and atolls into artificial islands.

"An interaction characterized by US Pacific Command as 'unsafe' occurred in international airspace above the South China Sea between a Chinese KJ-200 aircraft and a US Navy P-3C aircraft," said US Pacific Command spokesman Rob Shuford.

"The US Navy P-3C was on a routine mission operating in accordance with international law."

Davis said the Chinese aircraft essentially "crossed the nose" of the American plane, causing it to "make an immediate turn."

"We don't see any evidence that it was intentional," the spokesman said, adding that the incident appeared to be a "one-off" encounter.

"Clearly we have our disagreements with China over militarization of South China Sea," he said, adding that interactions between ships and planes are "largely professional and safe."

The KJ-200 is an airborne early warning and command plane, while the P-3 is a maritime surveillance aircraft.  

The Pacific Command said it would address the issue "in appropriate diplomatic and military channels."