WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. military officials say a Chinese warship nearly collided with an American Navy guided missile cruiser operating in international waters.
U.S. Pacific Fleet says it happened Dec. 5 in the South China Sea, and that the USS Cowpens maneuvered to avoid the collision.
The State Department has raised the matter at a high level with the Chinese government.
The incident comes amid heightened tension over China's growing assertiveness in the region.
Despite strenuous objections from Washington, Beijing recently declared a new air defense zone over parts of the East China Sea.
