Two US B52 bombers flew a mission over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea this week, the Pentagon said on Thursday, and received a verbal warning from Chinese air traffic controllers not to enter what Beijing believes to be Chinese airspace.
The Pentagon said the aircraft did not fly within 12 nautical miles of any of the contested land features in the area and the missions were not intended as a challenge to any of the various territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Peter Cook, Pentagon press secretary, said the B52s were operating in “international airspace” and continued their mission “unchanged” after being warned by Chinese controllers.