FIVE Chinese vessels moved close to a US Navy ship in the South China Sea, closing within 8m of the surveillance ship.
"This was a reckless, dangerous manoeuvre that was unprofessional" and violated international law, Defence Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
The US protested to Chinese authorities in Beijing and to the defence attache in Washington over the incident, which occurred on Sunday in the South China Sea, about 120km south of Hainan Island.
The White House demanded China respect international maritime law and vowed to keep up naval operations in the area.
"We're going to continue to operate in those international waters and we expect the Chinese to observe international law around there," spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
A Republican lawmaker called the standoff a critical "early test" for President Barack Obama just weeks before he meets Chinese President Hu Jintao in April.
The Chinese ships surrounded the USNS Impeccable, and after two ships came within 15m, waved Chinese flags and told the Americans to leave the area, the Defence Department said in a statement. Read more...