DoD spokesman Bill Urban told Reuters that the Chinese J-11 intercept of a U.S. Navy EP-3 spy plane over South China Sea on May 17 had violated an agreement on rules and behaviors during such encounters by both sides.
Earlier on May 26, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said the Chinese aircrew acted in line with the agreement and the best way of resolving the problem was for the U.S. to stop such flights.