China in turn accused the Australian plane of "deliberately" intruding into airspace over the disputed Paracel Islands,

Australia complained to Beijing after a dangerous encounter with a Chinese fighter jet and sent a frigate to the Torres Strait to shadow three Chinese warships.

Australia has protested what it describes as an unsafe and unprofessional interaction over the South China Sea where a Chinese fighter is accused of releasing flares that endangered an Australian mili

Australia accuses Chinese fighter jet of ‘unsafe conduct’ over South China Sea - The Chinese fighter is accused of releasing flares that endangered an Australian military surveillance plane

While it has no claims to the South China Sea, Australia has aligned itself close to the US and its allies in saying that China's assertions have no legal basis. "Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner," the department said in a statement on Thursday.

A People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 fighter released flares 30 meters away in front of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon on patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday prompting the Australian government to express its concern to China on such actions.

"All countries are expected to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in and above international sea lines of communication, such as the South China Sea, and to avoid interference in legitimate activities conducted in international waters and airspace,