Tension between the U.S. and China's militaries continue to mount as both countries flex their naval muscles in what has become a South China Sea posedown.  

China's People's Liberation Army Navy conducted a massive combat exercise in the area this week, mobilizing forces from each of its three fleets, according to the Chinese Navy.

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The exercise included guided missile destroyers, frigates, submarines, early-warning aircraft and fighter jets from the Navy's North Sea, East Sea and South Sea fleets. It was the Chinese Navy's second large joint exercise in the past month. In mid-November, it deployed combat ships and submarines from the three fleets in a counter-submarine drill in South China Sea.

Rear Admiral Li Xiaoyan, deputy chief of staff of China's South Sea Fleet, said that the most recent exercise had been prolonged by unanticipated events. Those unexpected events could very well be in reference to a flyover of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea by U.S. B-52 bombers.

China's military leaders called the flyover a "serious military provocation," which had sent military personnel in the area on high alert and issued warnings to the U.S. bomber to leave, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

China's defense ministry accused the U.S. of intentionally increasing tensions in the disputed region, where China claims rights to the islands, reed and the surrounding water. It also said that it would do whatever is necessary to protect China's sovereignty.

"We once again urge the United States to seriously reflect upon and correct its mistakes," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press release. "And stop any move that may undermine China's sovereignty and security interests and affect the peace and stability of South China Sea."

The U.S. technically has no official stance on China's sovereignty claims in the  South China Sea, where $5 trillion in international trade passes through every year. But the U.S. insists on freedom of navigation and insists that China's newly created islands are not entitled to traditional rights, particularly the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit.

"The United States routinely conducts B-52 training missions throughout the region, including over the South China Sea," Wright said in an email to The Associated Press. "These missions are designed to maintain readiness and demonstrate our commitment to fly, sail and operate anywhere allowed under international law."

But the flyover of the islands may have been by mistake and could have been the result of the bombers accidentally flying off course.  Pentagon spokesman Mark Wright told the Associated Press that the flyover was not a "freedom of navigation" operation and that there was "no intention of flying within 12 nautical miles of any feature." 

However, accidental incidents can be expected when opposing militaries conduct exercises in such close proximity to each other.

TagsTension Mounts as U.S., China Continue South China Sea Posedown, China’s People's Liberation Army Navy, Military exercises, Rear Admiral Li Xiaoyan, serious military provocation