Reuters reports that “China’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday its aircraft followed the rules after two Chinese fighter jets carried out what the United States said was an ‘unsafe’ intercept of a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.”  

“The incident took place in international airspace last week as the plane carried out ‘a routine U.S. patrol,’ the Pentagon said.”  

“A U.S. defense official said two Chinese J-11 fighter jets flew within 50 feet (15 meters) of the U.S. EP-3 aircraft. The official said the incident took place east of Hainan island.”