Chinese Fighter Jets Make 'Unsafe' Intercept of US Navy Plane Over South China Sea

— -- The Pentagon says a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace above the South China Sea was intercepted in an "unsafe" manner Tuesday by two Chinese military fighters.

"The Department of Defense is reviewing a May 17 intercept of a U.S. maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft by two tactical aircraft from the People's Republic of China," said a Pentagon statement released Wednesday."The incident occurred in international airspace during a routine U.S. patrol in the South China Sea. Initial reports characterized the incident as unsafe."

A defense official said the incident occurred in international airspace east of the Chinese island of Hainan in the South China Sea.

"The department has made progress reducing risk between our operational forces and those of the People's Republic of China (PRC) by improved dialogue at multiple levels under the bilateral Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA)," said the Pentagon statement. "Over the past year, DoD has seen improvements in PRC actions, flying in a safe and professional manner."

A U.S. official said the intercept involved a Navy EP-3 Aries maritime reconnaissance aircraft that was flying a normal patrol in international airspace over the South China Sea. The EP-3 is the electronic surveillance variant of the P-3 Orion.

According to the official, one of the two Chinese military J-11 fighters came within 100 feet to the side of the American reconnaissance aircraft at a high rate of speed.

The official said the crew aboard the American plane was unharmed in the incident.

The Pentagon said it will address the intercept "through the appropriate diplomatic and military channels."

The U.S. military has conducted three freedom of navigation transits over the past eight months through waters claimed by China in the Spratly Island chain. Last week the Pentagon released a report that detailed how China has built up more than 3,200 acres of land around seven reefs it claims are its territory. The Pentagon report said China's development in the island chain is intended to project its military power in the region and justify its territorial claims.