China tried to shoo away US Navy plane in South China Sea —report

The Chinese military asked a US Navy plane that flew over the disputed South China Sea on Friday.

According to a report on CNN, the US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane, flew past the Spratly islands where China has established military outposts on Subi Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson Reef and Mischief Reef.

A CNN news team was on the reconnaissance aircraft.

The US plane received six separate warnings from the Chinese military during the flight.

"Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding," the voice was quoted as saying.

The US Navy reportedly responded to the warnings saying, "I am a sovereign immune United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state."

The Navy added,"In exercising these rights guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states."

CNN Senior International Correspondent Ivan Watson said in a TV report that that plane "was trying to stay more than 12 nautical miles away from the perimeter of these man-made islands."

China has overlapping claims with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan over the South China Sea, a potentially oil and mineral-rich area where a bulk of the world’s trade passes through. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News