Australia accuses China of 'unsafe' military jet manoeuvres

A Chinese jet allegedly dropped a flare close to an Australian plane over the South China Sea.

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The Australian government has raised its concern with Beijing over the "unsafe and unprofessional" manoeuvre, the defence department said in a statement on Monday.

There was no damage to Australia's P-8A aircraft and its personnel were unharmed after Sunday's encounter.

A Chinese military spokesperson said the Australian jet "illegally intruded" into China's airspace and had to be expelled.

The Australian aircraft's actions "seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty", Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, spokesperson for China's Southern Theater Command Air Force said, urging Canberra to "immediately cease its infringing and provocative actions".