China has called on other countries not to 'complicate' the issue in the South China Sea after an Australian plane flew over the disputed area.

The Defence Department says one of its aircraft was involved in a routine maritime patrol over the South China Sea from November 25 to December 4. 

The Australian aircrew declared they were exercising international freedom of navigation rights in audio obtained by the BBC.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said there is 'no problem with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea' but warned countries 'outside the region' should respect the sovereignty of other states and not deliberately complicate the issue.

The revelations of the Australian operation come as US Commander Admiral Scott Swift expressed concerns nations could become increasingly tempted to use military force instead of arbitration to settle territorial spats .

'Certain countries are exaggerating tensions in the South China Sea region, which is in reality to create confusion and meddle in the South China Sea,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Beijing is building seven man-made islands on reefs in the Spratly Islands, including a 3000-metre-long airstrip on one of the sites, according to satellite imagery of the area.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $US5 trillion ($A6.90 trillion) of world trade ships every year.

In October, the US guided missile destroyer Lassen sailed close to one of China's man-made islands, drawing an angry rebuke from China and a shadowing patrol.

In a challenge to China's island building program, Manila has asked the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to affirm its right to areas within 200 nautical miles of its coastline, under the terms of a UN convention.

Beijing so far has rejected the court's jurisdiction and has boycotted the hearing. Rulings are supposed to be binding on its member countries, which include China. But the tribunal has no powers of enforcement and its verdicts have sometimes been ignored.