- China sent six warning to a US Navy plane operating in the South China Sea Friday, ordering the American crew to "leave immediately and keep out."
- The US Navy aircraft stayed the course, insisting that it was within its legal rights.
- The incident follows a report from the Philippine government revealing that China has been sending out threatening radio queries to foreign ships and planes at an increased frequency.
- The US Navys' operations in the South China Sea have not been affected.
Chinese forces deployed to the hotly-contested South China Sea ordered a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft to "leave immediately" six times Friday, but the pilot stayed the course, refusing to back down.
A US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane flew past China's garrisons in the Spratly Islands, giving the CNN reporters aboard the aircraft a view of Chinese militarization in the region.
Flying over Chinese strongholds on Mischief Reef, Johnson Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, CNN spotted "large radar installations, power plants and runways sturdy enough to carry large military aircraft." At one outpost, onboard sensors detected 86 vessels, including a number of Chinese Coast Guard ships, which China has been known to use to strongarm other claimant countries.
Lt. Lauren Callen, who led the US Navy crew, said that it was "surprising to see airports in the middle of the ocean."
An airstrip, structures and buildings on China's man-made Subi Reef in the Spratly chain
The Chinese stationed in the area were not exactly kind hosts to the uninvited guests.
Warning the aircraft that it was in Chinese territory - an argument an international arbitration tribunal ruled against two years ago - the Chinese military ordered the US Navy plane to "leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding."
A total of six warnings were issued, according to CNN, and the US Navy responded the same every time.
"I am a sovereign immune US naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state," the crew replied, adding, "In exercising these rights guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states.
Friday's incident comes on the heels of a report by the Philippine government revealing that China has been increasingly threatening foreign ships and planes operating in the South China Sea.
"Leave immediately," Chinese forces in the Spratlys warned a Philippine military aircraft earlier this year, according to the Associated Press. "I am warning you again, leave immediately or you will pay the possible consequences," the Chinese voice said over the radio.
The US Navy has noticed an increase in such queries as well.
"Our ships and aircraft have observed an increase in radio queries that appear to originate from new land-based facilities in the South China Sea," Cmdr. Clay Doss, a representative for the US 7th Fleet, told the AP, adding, "These communications do not affect our operations."
Of greater concern for the US military are recent Chinese deployments of military equipment and weapons systems, such as jamming technology, anti-ship cruise missiles, and surface-to-air missiles. While the US has accused China of "intimidation and coercion" in the disputed waterway, Beijing argues it is the US, not China, that is causing trouble in the region.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on Friday's exchange between the Chinese military and the US Navy.