China formally dismissed U.S. claims that its fighters are flying dangerously close to U.S. reconnaissance aircraft. Instead, the Chinese claim that the missions are tantamount to “spying,” and must end. The issue came to a head again May 17, when two Chinese J-11 fighters flew within 50 feet of a Navy EP-3 Aries, the Guardian reported. The U.S. claims the plane was flying in international airspace, while China contends that it approached two artificial islands it built in the South China Sea.