Beijing, China: Beijing accused Washington of "hype" today after the US said two Chinese jets conducted an unsafe intercept of one of its spy planes over the East China Sea.
The spat came soon after the world's two largest economies concluded an annual dialogue overshadowed by disagreements over maritime issues.
US Pacific Command spokesman Commander David Benham said two Chinese J-10 fighter jets flew close to an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane that was on a routine patrol.
"The US once again is deliberately hyping this issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing on Wednesday.
He also called on the US to stop carrying out "close surveillance activity against China...to prevent similar incidents from happening again".
China also claims a string of islets across the South China Sea and its military expansion in the contested waterway has sparked heightened tensions with regional neighbours and the United States.
Last month the Pentagon said two Chinese jets conducted an "unsafe" intercept of a US reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea.
Tuesday's reported intercept came as US Secretary of State John Kerry urged China to settle its territorial rows peacefully and based on the "rule of law" on a visit to Beijing.
Beijing will not budge on its claims of ownership over a vast tranche of the South China Sea, a top official insisted on Tuesday, as a key two-day annual meeting ended in the Chinese capital.
The spat came soon after the world's two largest economies concluded an annual dialogue overshadowed by disagreements over maritime issues.
US Pacific Command spokesman Commander David Benham said two Chinese J-10 fighter jets flew close to an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane that was on a routine patrol.
US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane.
"The US once again is deliberately hyping this issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing on Wednesday.
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He also called on the US to stop carrying out "close surveillance activity against China...to prevent similar incidents from happening again".
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China also claims a string of islets across the South China Sea and its military expansion in the contested waterway has sparked heightened tensions with regional neighbours and the United States.
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Last month the Pentagon said two Chinese jets conducted an "unsafe" intercept of a US reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea.
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Tuesday's reported intercept came as US Secretary of State John Kerry urged China to settle its territorial rows peacefully and based on the "rule of law" on a visit to Beijing.
Beijing will not budge on its claims of ownership over a vast tranche of the South China Sea, a top official insisted on Tuesday, as a key two-day annual meeting ended in the Chinese capital.
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