Philippine authorities say the United States has flown its most advanced surveillance plane from a military base in the Philippines over flashpoint areas of the South China Sea.

A Philippine military spokesman said the objective of the P-8A Poseidon flight was to ensure "freedom of navigation". A US Navy statement said the flight was meant to "increase understanding and showcase the capabilities" of what it said was its most advanced, long-range, anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and surveillance aircraft.

The statement also said the Poseidon logged 180 flight hours in the Philippines in the first three weeks of February. China has always been resolutely against what it calls US' interference with the South China Sea.

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