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Two Chinese fighters conducted an "unsafe and unprofessional intercept" of a U.S. Navy plane over the South China Sea, the AP reports. The Navy is reviewing the incident where one Chinese plane flew about 200 yards in front of a Navy P-3 surveillance plane that was in international airspace.

Why it matters: The South China sea has been called "the future of conflict" and is one of the most likely places for a clash between the U.S. and China. See our Facts Matter on the issue.

Chinese fighters harass U.S. Navy plane

Politics

Two Chinese fighters conducted an &quot;unsafe and unprofessional intercept&quot; of a U.S. Navy plane over the South China Sea, the AP reports. The Navy is reviewing the incident where one Chinese plane flew about 200 yards in front of a Navy P-3 surveillance plane that was in international airspace.Why it matters: The South China sea has been called &quot;the future of conflict&quot; and is one of the most likely places for a clash between the U.S. and China. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="See our Facts Matter on the issue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/the-most-dangerous-flashpoint-for-china-and-the-us-1513300059-5c8e86d2-f8fc-48bc-9021-74050b925511.html" data-vars-content-id="801666db-b6db-4e61-b944-5a16d1649518" data-vars-headline="Chinese fighters harass U.S. Navy plane" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/the-most-dangerous-flashpoint-for-china-and-the-us-1513300059-5c8e86d2-f8fc-48bc-9021-74050b925511.html" target="_self">See our Facts Matter on the issue</a>.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

Chinese fighters harass U.S. Navy plane

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