A Chinese fighter jet released flares in front of an Australian military aircraft while flying over the South China Sea early this week, authorities in Canberra have said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australia’s defence ministry said it “expressed concerns” to its Chinese counterparts over the “unsafe and unprofessional interaction”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one was injured and there was no damage to Australia’s P-8A surveillance jet after Tuesday’s incident, the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But China said the Australian aircraft “intentionally intruded” into its airspace and that the Chinese fighter jet responded in a “legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrained” manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the latest in a string of encounters between the two countries’ militaries in the region, where China’s vast claims over islands and outcrops overlap with those of its neighbours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it has no claims to the South China Sea, Australia has aligned itself close to the US and its allies<\/a> in saying that China’s assertions have no legal basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner,” the department said in a statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in response that Australia violated China’s sovereignty and that Canberra must “stop undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In May last year, Australia accused a Chinese fighter plane of dropping flares close to an Australian navy helicopter<\/a> that was part of a UN Security Council mission on the Yellow Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n