A US Navy surveillance plane almost collided with two Chinese fighter jets over the weekend after they attempted to buzz the aircraft.

The US EP-3 plane was flying over the East China Sea - which is bordered by China's east coast, South Korea and Japan - when it was intercepted by the Chinese aircraft.

One of the J-10 jets came up from under the spy plane just 300 feet away, forcing it 'to take evasive action to avoid collision,' a US official told Fox News.

Two Chinese J-10 fighter jets (seen in file image) buzzed an American surveillance plane over the East China Sea over the weekend, almost causing a collision, US officials said

Both of the Chinese jets were armed with air-to-air missiles, the official claimed.

The incident was also confirmed to Reuters by two officials.

The near-collision occurred around 90 miles south of the Chinese port of Qingdao, officials said. That's 250 mile north-west of Shanghai, China's second-most populous city.

This is the third time in three months that US aircraft have been buzzed by Chinese planes in the region.

On May 25, American officials blasted 'unsafe and unprofessional' Chinese pilots after they flew just 100 feet from one of the Navy's P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft.

And on May 17, a USA WC-135W Constant Phoenix 'nuke sniffer' plane was approached by two Chinese SU-30 jets - one of which flew upside down over the WC-135W, Top Gun-style.

China declared an air defense identification zone over a large section of the East China Sea in 2013, a move the US called illegitimate and has refused to recognize.

China has demanded foreign aircraft operating within the zone declare their intentions and follow Chinese instructions.

It is unclear whether this weekend's incident took place within the disputed area.

The US EP-3 surveillance plane (seen in file photo) had to change its course after one of the jets flew up at it from just 300 feet away. Both jets had air-to-air missiles, officials said

The incident continues the awkward relationship between the US and China during a period of high tension in East Asia.

On Friday Admiral John Richardson called his Chinese counterpart to discuss putting pressure on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons development.

That comes amid continuing rivalry between US and Chinese ships in the South China Sea, which the Asian country has also laid claim to.

It has built aritifical islands and constructed bases on naturally-occurring islands of disputed ownership in order to cement its claim on the waters.

The US, meanwhile, has continued Obama-era policy of sending ships through the disputed area - including within 12 miles of the islands, in water that would be considered Chinese if the islands were internationally accepted.

China has condemned the exercises, and tailed ships in waters it considers its own.

Earlier this month China sent troops to the African nation of Djibouti, establishing its first international base just four miles from a US base also in the country.

In June the USS Nimitz - the nation's oldest aircraft carrier - was sent to the Pacific to join the US Carl Vinison and the USS Ronald Regan, amid concerns over North Korea.

In July the Nimitz, along with ships from India and Japan, took part in exercises off the Indian coast in what was said to be a show of strength against China.