"The response from China's Defence Ministry came a day after Australia's Ministry of Defence issued a statement about an unsafe and unprofessional incident on Sunday, in which it said a Chinese Air Force fighter aircraft released flares in close proximity to an Australian Air Force plane conducting a maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea. For decades, the [Australian Defence Force] has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, the Australian statement added."
"Australia's statement did not specify where in the South China Sea the alleged incident took place, whereas Jiang claimed the incident occurred in airspace over China's Xisha Islands, Beijing's name for the Paracel Islands. The Paracel group of islands is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. China and Australia traded similar accusations regarding another incident in February this year."
China and Australia exchanged conflicting accounts after an incident involving a Chinese jet releasing flares near an Australian maritime surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. China lodged a solemn complaint alleging an illegal Australian incursion into Chinese airspace, with Defence Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin urging Australia to restrain frontline forces and avoid damaging bilateral relations. Australia described the event as unsafe and unprofessional and affirmed long-standing maritime surveillance activities carried out in accordance with international law. Australia's statement did not specify location, while China said the incident occurred over the Xisha (Paracel) Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The two nations traded similar accusations earlier this year.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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