No, seriously. The Pentagon is charging that five Chinese ships shadowed and surrounded the unarmed USNS Impeccable, as it conducted ocean surveys in international waters in the South China Sea.
"The Impeccable sprayed one ship with water from fire hoses to force it away. Despite the force of the water,
Chinese crew members stripped to their underwear and continued closing within 25 feet," the Associated Press reports.
"The unprofessional maneuvers by Chinese vessels violated the requirement under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean," said Marine Maj. Stewart
Upton, a Pentagon spokesman. "We expect Chinese ships to act responsibly and refrain from provocative activities that could lead to miscalculation or a collision at sea, endangering vessels and the lives of U.S. and Chinese mariners."
[Splash: WH; photo: People's Daily]
