The White House on Friday called a Chinese jet's close brush with a US surveillance plane over Japan a deeply concerning provocation and said US officials have protested to Beijing.

The Chinese plane came within 30 feet of the American aircraft recently, the Pentagon said earlier. Ben Rhodes, deputy White House national security adviser, told reporters the move was a "deeply concerning provocation."

"We have communicated directly to the Chinese government our objection to this type of action," Rhodes said.

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