The US Pacific Fleet Commander has warned of a possible arms race in the disputed South China Sea which could engulf the region, as it was revealed an Australian military plane had been challenged as it flew through the area.
Commander Admiral Scott Swift urged nations, like China, to seek arbitration to settle maritime disputes as nations become increasingly tempted to use military force to settle territorial spats instead of international law.
"My concern is that after many decades of peace and prosperity, we may be seeing the leading edge of a return of `might makes it right' to the region," Swift said on Monday in a speech in Hawaii, according to a copy seen by Reuters.
"Claimants and non-claimants alike are transferring larger shares of national wealth to develop more capable naval forces beyond what is needed merely for self defence," Swift said.
Asked about Swift's comments, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "Certain countries are exaggerating tensions in the South China Sea region, which is in reality to create confusion and meddle in the South China Sea. China is resolutely opposed to this."
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $US5 trillion ($A6.90 trillion) of world trade ships every year, a fifth of it heading to and from US ports.
Beijing is building seven man-made islands on reefs in the Spratly Islands, including a 3000-metre-long airstrip on one of the sites, according to satellite imagery of the area.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan also claim parts of the South China Sea.
"Even now, ships and aircraft operating nearby these features, in accordance with international law are subject to superfluous warnings that threaten routine commercial and military operations," Swift said, speaking at the Co-operative Strategy Forum to naval commanders from Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries.
Australia's Defence Department said one of its aircraft was involved in "a routine maritime patrol" over the South China Sea from November 25 to December 4. The BBC reported the aircraft was "exercising international freedom of navigation rights".
"There is no problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," Hong said when asked about the Australian patrol.
"Countries outside the region should respect other country's sovereignty and not deliberately complicate the issue."
In October, the US guided missile destroyer Lassen sailed close to one of China's man-made islands, drawing an angry rebuke from China and a shadowing patrol.
In a challenge to China's island building program, Manila has asked the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to affirm its right to areas within 200 nautical miles of its coastline, under the terms of a UN convention.
Beijing so far has rejected the court's jurisdiction and has boycotted the hearing. Rulings are supposed to be binding on its member countries, which include China. But the tribunal has no powers of enforcement and its verdicts have sometimes been ignored.
