"We would continue to urge everybody in that area, in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, to exercise restraint and not do things that are provocative and to respect each other's sovereignty in their operations," Pentagon Spokesman Navy Capt Jeff Davis told reporters during an off-camera news conference.
Davis was responding to questions on Chinese H-6 bombers flying over the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait several times over the past week.
The Chinese Defence Ministry has told Japan that it should get used to it.
Japan scrambled fighters in response, the Japanese media reported.
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"It is legitimate for Chinese military planes to fly through the strait, and more similar training will be conducted on the high seas as needed," China Defence Department spokesman Ren Guoqiang Guoqiang said.
"The parties concerned don't need to overact and make a great fuss about it. They will feel better after getting used to such drills," he said.