A US spy agency apologized for a sarcastic tweet after President Obama's visit to Asia kicked off with a Chinese security official yelling at White House staff.

The Defense Intelligence Agency linked to a NYTimes article about the incident and wrote, 'Classy as always China' to its 83,000 followers before deleting the tweet.

About four hours later, the DIA wrote: 'Earlier today, a tweet regarding a news article was mistakenly posted from this account & does not represent the views of DIA. We apologize.'

The Defense Intelligence Agency linked to a NYTimes article about the incident and wrote, 'Classy as always China' to its 83,000 followers before deleting the tweet

About four hours later, the DIA issued an apology and said the offending tweet was 'mistakenly psoted'

The DIA tweet seemed to be a response to Obama's arrival in Asia after Chinese official shouted at members of the White House press corp for being too close to the president

A female White House official told him that it was an American plane and the US president, to which the Chinese official retorted in English: 'This is our country! This is our airport!'

Obama landed in Hangzhou on Saturday ahead of the G20 Summit, but his arrival was marred by a Chinese official who was shouting at members of the White House press corp for being too close to the president.

When Obama travels, the accompanying reporters are usually brought under the wing of the Boeing 747 to watch him disembark.

The reporters were corralled behind a blue rope installed by Chinese security, but one official deemed it was still 'too close'.

A female White House official told him that it was an American plane and the US president, to which the Chinese official retorted in English: 'This is our country! This is our airport!'

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice was also told off when she and senior White House staffer Ben Rhodes tried to get closer to the president before a Secret SErvice agent ushered her forward.

Obama also opted to use the presidential jet's built-in staircase rather than the airport's rolling ladder in a move usually reserved for high security landings in countries like Afghanistan.

Obama also opted to use the presidential jet's built-in staircase rather than the airport's rolling ladder in a move usually reserved for high security landings

The president tried to smooth things over and said similar incidents happened in numerous countries

The president tried to smooth things over when he addressed the incident, saying: 'It can cause some friction. It's not the first time it has happened. It doesn't just happen in China.

'It happens in other countries where we travel. I think that this time, though, the seams were showing a little more.'