LEAST 12 FAMILIES DISPLACED. THE CAUSE IS BEING INVESTIGATED. >>> TENSIONS CONTINUE TO RISE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA AFTER A WARSHIP WAS SENT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF AN AMERICAN MISSILE DESTROYER. CBS 2'S ELIZABETH PALMER REPORTS. >> Reporter: ADDRESSING AN AUDIENCE OF GLOBAL SECURITY OFFICIALS, CHINA'S DEFENSE MINISTER HAD SOME BLUNT ADVICE FOR THE UNITED STATES. KEEP YOUR SHIPS AND PLANES AWAY, HE SAID. HE WAS REACTING TO CRITICISM OF AN INCIDENT IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT SATURDAY WHEN A CHINESE WARSHIP CROSSED THE COURSE OF AN AMERICAN DESTROYER SO CLOSE IT HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID A COLLISION. LAST WEEK A CHINESE FIGHTER PLANE PULLED A SIMILAR MANEUVER IN FRONT OF AN AMERICAN RECONNAISSANCE PLANE OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. WITHOUT TRYING TO JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS, GENERAL LEE SAID, "TO AVOID SIMILAR INCIDENTS, THE U.S. SHOULD STEER CLEAR OF AREAS AROUND CHINA. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS," HE SAID. BUT THE U.S. SEES ROUTINE PATROLS OF THE AIR AND SEA OFF MAINLAND CHINA AS VERY MUCH ITS OWN BUSINESS TO UNDERSCORE ITS POSITION THAT THIS IS INTERNATIONAL SPACE OPEN TO EVERYONE. AT A CONFERENCE BANQUET FRIDAY GENERAL LEE SHOOK HANDS WITH THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, LLOYD AUSTIN, BUT CHINA DECLINED A FORMAL MEETING AND THAT SAID SECRETARY AUSTIN IS DANGEROUS. MEANWHILE THE U.S. AND CHINESE MILITARIES CONTINUE TO OPERATE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OFF CAMERA, SECRETARY AUSTIN CALLED ON CHINESE LEADERS TO REIN IN DANGEROUS CONDUCT IN CASE
