Chinese officials issued another warning to the United States on Monday over reconnaissance flights being carried out in disputed areas of the South China Sea. The latest furor was prompted when U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Scott Swift headed one such flight.

Bloomberg Business reported that Chinese defense officials have issued a public statement saying the "espionage" flights are damaging relations between the two countries.

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The official website of America's Pacific fleet announced on July 18 that its top commander was on board a P-8 plane which flew over the South China Sea.

Vast areas of the South China Sea are being claimed by several countries. But, China has embarked on a massive land reclamation projects on a number of shoals and reefs in the area.

Two months ago, Chinese foreign affairs officials claimed that the country has the rights to station its military force in the disputed region in order to "safeguard" the area from accidents and uphold the security of China.

In May, Chinese military forces in the area repeatedly instructed a P-8 plane on a reconnaissance mission to go away. Despite the warnings, United States planes continue to patrol the disputed areas. American officials have reiterated that such flights are legal since they are sanctioned by international law.

The American military is silent about the specific details with regards to the Admiral's flight. People's Daily reported, however, that Swift participated in the reconnaissance sortie held last July 18.

The Philippines has lauded the American reconnaissance flight and sees it as an affirmation of its territorial claims in the South China Sea, according to the Bangkok Post.

Presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma announced that the United States reconnaissance flights over the disputed areas is a tacit acknowledgment that the international community is supporting the Philippines claim.

The Philippines has taken its claims before the Hague-based International tribunal body. But China has declined to take part and present its own case to the arbitrators. Instead, Beijing insists that the matter should only be discussed between the two countries without the involvement of outside parties.

TagsTerritorial disputes in the South China Sea, west philippine sea, china philippines territorial dispute, Admiral Scott Swift, Pacific fleet, P-8a Poseidon flight, hague international arbitrary court, Kalayaan islands group