Edgartown - The White House on Friday called a Chinese jet's close brush with a US surveillance plane over Japan a deeply concerning provocation and said US officials had protested to Beijing.
The Chinese plane came within 9 metres of the American aircraft, the Pentagon said.
Ben Rhodes, deputy White House national security adviser, told reporters the move was a "deeply concerning provocation."
"We have communicated directly to the Chinese government our objection to this type of action," Rhodes said.