That's the freaking point! Japan attacked us you numb nuts! We do NOT attack the ships of those that we are not at war with in the open ocean. How would we prevent a Chinese sub from approaching in international waters? Ram them? That's an attack, which we DON'T do!
Maybe you'd like to hear it from a more current submariner than I.
http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2006/11/uss-kitty-hawk-and-chinese-sub.html
Update 0513 13 Nov: Here's the article, from the Washington Times' Bill Gertz. It's even lamer than I thought; the Song-class diesel boat was spotted on the surface about five miles from the Kitty Hawk. So, either the Chinese were trying desperately to let us know that they could get that close to us, or this is another of a series of attempts by the Chinese to send their submarines farther afield where they just can't seem to stay undetected and/or submerged. Since they have nothing to gain by taunting us like that, I vote for the second option.
And a brain is obviously not needed in this discussion, you've already proven that. I would urge you to look into getting one, however.
The question bubble head is whether our Task force is vulnerable to a first strike attack, rendering them useless in any posturing againts Iran.
EOM