States surveillance plane flying over artificial islands that Beijing is creating in the disputed South China Sea to leave the area eight times, according to CNN, which was on board the flight.
At one stage, after the American pilots responded by saying the plane was flying through international air space, a Chinese radio operator said with exasperation: "This is the Chinese navy ... you go!"
The P8-A Poseidon, the US military's most advanced surveillance aircraft, flew at 4,500 metres at its lowest point, CNN said.
The incident, along with recent Chinese warnings to Philippine military aircraft to leave areas around the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea, suggests Beijing is trying to enforce a military exclusion zone above its new islands.
Some security experts worry about the risk of confrontation, especially after a US official said last week the Pentagon was considering sending military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around the Chinese-made islands.
China 'not aware of incident', vows to protect sovereignty
A spokeswoman for the US state department said US planes operated "in accordance with international law in disputed areas of the South China Sea" and would continue to do so "consistent with the rights freedoms and lawful uses of the sea".
Marie Harf said verbal warnings had been issued by the Chinese but added that she would not describe the incident as a "confrontation".
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said he was not aware of the incident.