Beijing: Report probably concerns US close-in spy flight

The Ministry of National Defense said that what the US media reported as China's recent interception of US reconnaissance aircraft above the South China Sea "is probably concerning the close-in reconnaissance by US military aircraft against China".

A sailor is taking part in the fire drill on the Chinese patrol vessel "Haixun 01" on April 8, 2016 in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Pentagon said in a Wednesday statement that two Chinese fighter jets carried out an "unsafe" intercept of a US military reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.

The statement said the incident took place in international airspace on Tuesday as the US maritime patrol aircraft carried out "a routine US patrol," Reuters reported.

In response to China Daily's request for comment, the ministry said that "we have taken notice of the relevant media report".

"According to the reported situation, this is probably concerning the close-in reconnaissance by US military aircraft against China. We will embark on understanding and evaluating the relevant situation," the ministry added.