U.S. Navy sailors stand on an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) to get a better view of the fireworks during the ship's Independence Day celebration on July 4, in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion aircraft and a Chinese KJ-200 plane had an "unsafe" encounter in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said. File Photo by James Mullen/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. officials said a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion aircraft and a Chinese KJ-200 plane had an "unsafe" close encounter in the South China Sea after flying within 1,000 feet of each other.

An official said the U.S. aircraft had to alter course to avoid a potential collision. The incident occurred Wednesday near the contested Scarborough Shoal.


"The U.S. Navy P-3C was on a routine mission operating in accordance with international law," U.S. Pacific Command Maj. Rob Shuford told CNN. "The Department of Defense and US Pacific Command are always concerned about unsafe interactions with Chinese military forces ... We will address the issue in appropriate diplomatic and military channels."

The incident with the Chinese aircraft is the first to be publicly confirmed since May. A Chinese Defense Ministry official told state-run media the Chinese pilots dealt with the encounter legitimately and professionally, adding that the United States should work to minimize air or sea incidents with China.