Story highlights China calls US description of the fighter jets maneuver "inconsistent with the facts"

It's the second contentious encounter involving US and Chinese aircraft over the past week

Washington (CNN) Two Chinese J-10 fighter jets conducted unsafe maneuvers while intercepting a US surveillance aircraft that was operating in international airspace near the South China Sea, according to the Navy.

The incident occurred Wednesday and is the second contentious encounter involving US and Chinese aircraft over the past week.

A US official told CNN that one Chinese fighter flew about 200 yards in front a US P-3 spy plane and began conducting multiple turns. The maneuvers were deemed unsafe because they restricted the ability of the Navy plane to fly, the official said.

Navy Cmdr. Gary Ross confirmed that the Chinese jet's actions qualified as "unsafe and unprofessional" but noted that the US continues to review the facts of the incident and will convey its concerns through "appropriate channels" with the Chinese government.

"US forces operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea," Ross said in a statement. "All operations are conducted in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows."

Read More