China says intercept of US spy plane was professional, urges end to 'close-in' reconnaissance
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}China's Defense Ministry has rejected U.S. accusations that a Chinese fighter jet conducted a "dangerous intercept" of a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft off the coast of China in international airspace.
The ministry issued a statement Saturday night attributed to spokesman Yang Yujun calling the U.S. accusations "groundless." It says the Chinese pilot conducted operations that were "professional and the Chinese jet kept a safe distance from the U.S. planes."
The Pentagon says the Chinese jet made several close passes by the Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, coming within 30 feet of it at one point.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Pentagon says the Aug. 19 encounter was the fourth such incident since March.
The Chinese statement says "the U.S. large-scale and highly frequent close-in reconnaissance against China is the root cause of accidents."