The message was delivered after the U.S. military on Wednesday undertook a reconnaissance flight on which a CNN crew flew. "The recent surveillance activity by a U.S. plane posed potential threats to China's islands and reefs, making it highly possible to lead to misjudgment, which could cause maritime or air accidents," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, according to a report on state-run CNTV.

Congressional Republicans are vowing to fight President Barack Obama's plan to make immigration changes through executive action, but they are struggling with how to do that without triggering another government shutdown. The House and Senate need to pass a measure during the lame duck session to fund federal agencies, which will run out of money in mid-December.