China on Friday accused Australia of deliberately provoking it with a maritime patrol in the disputed South China Sea.
The Asian country said Australia was spreading false narratives, but Australia maintained that its action adhered to international law.
The incident, in which Australia's defence minister said a Chinese PLA J-16 jet released flares within 30 m (100 feet) of an RAAF aircraft, comes after ties strained by navy and air force interactions that Australia has called dangerous.
The comments came a day after Australia flagged unsafe and unprofessional actions by the jet towards the patrol which it said was on routine surveillance in international waters on Tuesday, an account Beijing disputed.
According to a spokesperson for the Chinese defence ministry, Zhang Xiaogang, Australia deliberately infringed upon China's rights in the South China Sea and provoked China, adding that it was the villain who complained first, spreading false narratives.
Zhang accused the Australian military aircraft of ignoring the main routes in the busy waterway, saying it broke into the homes of others, and adding that China's response was reasonable and a legitimate defence of sovereignty.
"We urge Australia to abandon its illusion of speculation and adventure," Zhang said.
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