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The US destroyer USS Decatur had to maneuver to avoid a collision Sunday after a Chinese warship approached within 45 feet of its bow when crossing a controversial chain of islands. in the South China Sea on Sunday, US defense officials said.
The close encounter that the US Navy has described as "dangerous and unprofessional" comes at a time of heightened tension between the United States and China.
On September 30, at approximately 8:30 am local time, a destroyer from the People's Republic of China approached the USS DECATUR as part of an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver in the vicinity of Gaven Reef , in the South China Sea, "said Captain Charlie Brown, spokesman for the US fleet.
Gaven Reef is located in the chain of Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea, where China claims seven artificial islands.
The close encounter with the Chinese warship took place as the US destroyer conducted a Freedom of Navigation operation (FONOP) in the Spratlys, announced America.
US naval forces regularly carry out missions around the world to challenge the excessive territorial claims of international shipping routes.
The USS Decatur had sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson's reefs in the Spratly Islands when he was approached by the Chinese destroyer.
The Chinese navy destroyer has conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings for DECATUR to leave the area, Brown said.
"The PRC destroyer approached within 45 meters of DECATUR's bow, after which he maneuvered to avoid a collision," Brown said.
A US defense official described the close encounter as short-lived.
Chinese ships have approached US Navy vessels in previous FONOPs in the South China Sea, but Sunday's match appears to be the closest.
"US Navy ships and planes operate regularly in the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea," Brown said. "As we have been doing for decades, our forces will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits."
There were no immediate comments from China.
Over the past week, military relations between the United States and China have deteriorated, with both countries engaged in a fierce trade dispute.
Last week, a US B-52 air force conducted a mission across the East China Sea and two other B-52 flights were conducted across the South China Sea.
Last week, China also refused a port of call in Hong Kong to USS Wasp, a US Navy ship scheduled for October, and forced an admiral to a meeting with his US Navy counterpart.
On Monday, a US official confirmed that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had canceled a trip to China in October, after China lowered the level of officials.
