[SIZE=+1]Chinese ships play dangerous game with US researchers[/SIZE]
China National News
Monday 9th March, 2009
An unarmed US navy surveillance vessel in the South China Sea has been menaced by five Chinese ships.China National News
Monday 9th March, 2009
The Pentagon has said the ships Chinese ships manoeuvred dangerously close to the US vessel after 'provocative and aggressive actions' over a period of five days.
The US has made a formal complaint to China's military attache at the Pentagon over the incident, which happened as the USNS Impeccable was on routine operations in international waters 75 miles south of Hainan Island.
Impeccable is designed specifically to detect underwater threats such as submarines for the US navy.
The Pentagon identified the Chinese boats as a naval intelligence-gathering ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel, and two small trawlers; all of which were involved in the aggressive manoeuvring.
The US ship sprayed one Chinese vessel with water from fire hoses to try to force it away, but the Chinese vessels dropped pieces of wood in its path, forcing it to make an emergency stop.
A Pentagon spokesman has referred to the Chinese actions as 'unprofessional' and violating the international requirement to operate with due regard to the safety of other lawful users of the ocean.
Boys playing with toys .
