The Chinese navy warned a US surveillance plane flying over artificial islands that Beijing is creating in the disputed South China Sea to leave the area eight times, according to CNN, which was on board the flight on Wednesday. At one stage, after the American pilots responded by saying the plane was flying through international airspace, a Chinese radio operator said with exasperation: “This is the Chinese navy ... You go!” The P8-A Poseidon, the US military’s most advanced surveillance aircraft, flew at 15,000 feet (4,500 meters) at its lowest point, CNN said. The incident, along with recent Chinese warnings to Philippine military aircraft to leave areas around the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, suggests. Beijing is trying to enforce a military exclusion zone above its new islands.

Mabasa, R. C. (2015 May 22). China drives away US spy plane in South China Sea. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. 1, 9.