(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - March 9, 2009: Several Chinese ships maneuvered dangerou
sly close to an unarmed U.S. Military Sealift Command ship in international waters, the Pentagon said on Monday.
"This was a reckless, dangerous maneuver that was unprofessional" and violated international law, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.
He said the United States would be conveying its "displeasure" to the Chinese government over the incident, which occurred on Sunday in the South China Sea, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Hinan Island.
One of the Chinese vessels came within 25 feet and at one point the Chinese crew stripped to their underwear, he said.
The Chinese also dropped pieces of wood into the water in the path of the American ship, he said. The small Chinese vessels, which resembled fishing boats, had no apparent military markings, according to photos Whitman showed to reporters.
The Impeccable is one of five ocean surveillance ships that are part of Military Sealift Command's Special Mission Ships Program. These ships gather "underwater acoustical data," Whitman said.
Ocean surveillance ships use both passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats. Impeccable's speed is 12 knots, and crew is usually 25 civilian mariners and 25 military members, according to MSC's Web site.
sly close to an unarmed U.S. Military Sealift Command ship in international waters, the Pentagon said on Monday.
"This was a reckless, dangerous maneuver that was unprofessional" and violated international law, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.
He said the United States would be conveying its "displeasure" to the Chinese government over the incident, which occurred on Sunday in the South China Sea, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) from Hinan Island.
One of the Chinese vessels came within 25 feet and at one point the Chinese crew stripped to their underwear, he said.
The Chinese also dropped pieces of wood into the water in the path of the American ship, he said. The small Chinese vessels, which resembled fishing boats, had no apparent military markings, according to photos Whitman showed to reporters.
The Impeccable is one of five ocean surveillance ships that are part of Military Sealift Command's Special Mission Ships Program. These ships gather "underwater acoustical data," Whitman said.
Ocean surveillance ships use both passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats. Impeccable's speed is 12 knots, and crew is usually 25 civilian mariners and 25 military members, according to MSC's Web site.
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