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Chinese authorities are strongly urging the U.S. to refrain from flying reconnaissance aircraft over Chinese waters.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei made the remarks in response to a recent U.S. claim on China's interception of an American aircraft over the East China Sea, "The root cause of the issue is the frequent close reconnaissance over Chinese waters and in China's airspace by U.S. military aircraft. That has seriously threatened the Chinese maritime and airspace security. China has the right to take defensive measures. This is also the source of the related issue. We demand that the United States stop its close reconnaissance activities and prevent this kind of incident from happening again."

In a statement, the U.S. Pacific Command described the interception by a Chinese J-10 fighter jet against an American reconnaissance plane over East China Sea as "unsafe."

It said the plane flew in the international airspace, but didn't make clear whether it entered China's air defense identification zone over the sea area.

Hong noted that China's air fleet has always acted in a professional and responsible way and in line with the law.

China has repeatedly urged the US to stop its long-term close-in reconnaissance off Chinese coasts.

In a similar case last month, two Chinese warplanes intercepted a US EP-3 aircraft over the South China Sea.