China says U.S. surveillance flights near its coast have severely harmed strategic trust between the countries and are a major obstacle to closer military ties. The Global Times newspaper today quoted defense ministry officials as demanding that the United States respect China's sovereignty and security interests. The remarks follow a speech this week in which U.S. military Chief of staff Admiral Mike Mullen said, America will not be deterred from flying in international air space close to China.The Global Times article also reports that two Chinese Sukhoi-27 fighters tried to intercept a U.S. U-2 surveillance flight over the Taiwan Strait late last month. Reuters news agency reports the Chinese planes briefly crossed into Taiwan's air space during the operation.