Pentagon: Chinese jet fighter gives U.S. navy plane close call
- 10 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
The Pentagon confirmed on Friday (August 22) reports of what it called a dangerous intercept of a U.S. Navy plane by an armed Chinese fighter jet earlier this week, the press secretary said.
The incident happened on Tuesday (August 19) about 135 miles east of Hainan Island in international airspace, Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby told reports.
"We have registered our strong concerns to the Chinese about the unsafe and unprofessional intercept, which posed a risk to the safety and well being of the aircrew and was inconsistent with customary international law," Kirby said. "Also, it undermines, and we've made this clear that it undermines, efforts to continue developing military to military relations with the Chinese military."
Kirby said the jet flew 30 feet (10 meters) from the U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol plane, which he said was conducting a routine mission.
The Pentagon confirmed on Friday (August 22) reports of what it called a dangerous intercept of a U.S. Navy plane by an armed Chinese fighter jet earlier this week, the press secretary said.
The incident happened on Tuesday (August 19) about 135 miles east of Hainan Island in international airspace, Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby told reports.
"We have registered our strong concerns to the Chinese about the unsafe and unprofessional intercept, which posed a risk to the safety and well being of the aircrew and was inconsistent with customary international law," Kirby said. "Also, it undermines, and we've made this clear that it undermines, efforts to continue developing military to military relations with the Chinese military."
Kirby said the jet flew 30 feet (10 meters) from the U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol plane, which he said was conducting a routine mission.