China accuses Australia of provoking and covering up South China Sea incident

China has accused Australia of attempting to shift blame following a tense confrontation between military jets over the South China Sea. The Chinese defence ministry insisted that Australia’s statements about the episode merely mask what Beijing calls a deliberate intrusion by Australia’s air force into Chinese airspace. The incident in question involved an Australian maritime patrol plane and a Chinese fighter jet over the Paracel Islands, a disputed territory claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Australia had reported that the Chinese aircraft dropped flares alarmingly close to its P-8A Poseidon patrol plane, labelling the maneuver as “unsafe and unprofessional.” Following this, China formally issued a strong complaint to Canberra and asserted that its own jet acted lawfully and in a restrained manner to defend national sovereignty.

Defence ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin denounced Australia’s actions as provocations, demanding that it immediately stop what he called “infringing, provocative and hype-mongering actions.” He also emphasized that China would continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial claims.

Australian officials maintain that their patrols are routine and conducted under international law in the region, but China claims the encounter took place within its sovereign airspace over the Paracel Islands. Previous episodes have seen similar accusations exchanged between the two countries, as China continues to step up efforts to assert control over disputed areas in the South China Sea. The episode adds to growing regional friction and reflects China’s wider campaign to push back against Western military aircraft and vessels operating near its shores, prompting calls for all sides to exercise restraint in contested maritime zones.