U.S. officials have begun debating whether it's safe to conduct forward-deployed strategic exercises in the Asia-Pacific region following an Aug. 19 intercept by an U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon of a Chinese J-11 fighter jet that flew within 20 feet of the American aircraft off the Hainan Island coast.

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The armed Chinese fighter jet flew over and under the U.S. Navy patrol jet at a very close range, a move that the Pentagon described as "unsafe and unprofessional." The Navy jet was on a surveillance mission, officials said.

The conduct was done to imply China's objection in the United States' presence in Asia, according to U.S. analysts. China was sending a signal that the U.S had a choice between maintaining an amiable relationship with China or keeping its dominance in Asia, analysts said.

China's leaders were seeking to displace U.S. dominance in a move to expand its power and influence in Asia, said Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Center for a New American Security.

The security analyst added that Chinese leaders were trying to shift the existing state of affairs so neighboring countries accepted the growing Chinese supremacy.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, said the J-11 fighter jet passed the nose of the U.S. navy jet with its belly towards the P-8 in a "barrel roll" to show its "weapons load-out."'

The admiral added that the Chinese jet flew within 20 feet of the P-8 Poseidon, a conduct which was not fitting with the kind of "military relations" the U.S. wanted to have with China.

Besides the United States, Taiwan also has had problems with its spy planes when its Air Force intercepted Chinese surveillance jets within Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea.

Taiwanese officials debated whether the incident was an indication that China was planning to set-up its own ADIZ in the South China Sea.

Tagschinese fighter jet, poseidon, politics, World News, Defense, Asia Pacific