Beijing (EFE).- China on Wednesday accused Australia of provocation, distorting the facts and carrying out an illegal intrusion into its airspace over the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea at the weekend.
The accusation comes after Canberra on Monday reported “unsafe” maneuvers by a Chinese fighter jet against an Australian military aircraft in the area the previous day.
“Australia’s statement distorts facts, confuses right and wrong, and maliciously accuses China in an attempt to cover up its own egregious act of illegally intruding into Chinese airspace,” China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said in a statement.
“We express our strong dissatisfaction and have lodged solemn representations with the Australian side.”
He added that the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command “organized forces to resolutely intercept and expel” the Australian aircraft, actions that it claimed were “legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrained.”
“We urge Australia to immediately cease all acts of infringement, provocation, and sensationalism, to strictly restrain its frontline air and naval operations, and to avoid damaging relations between the two countries and their militaries,” it said.
On Monday, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that an air force P-8 Poseidon plane conducting a routine patrol over the South China Sea when it was approached on Sunday by a Chinese Su-35 fighter that fired flares “very close” to the aircraft, calling the incident “unsafe and unprofessional.”
China maintains that the Australian aircraft entered the airspace of the Xisha Islands, the Chinese name for the Paracel Islands, an archipelago whose sovereignty it claims almost entirely and where it maintains military installations.
“The Chinese armed forces will continue to take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security and to firmly maintain regional peace and stability,” Jiang said.
The South China Sea is one of the most persistent flashpoints of tension in Asia.
Beijing claims most of its waters, despite counter-claims from other coastal countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam, and criticizes air and sea patrols by foreign powers, including the United States and Australia, which defend freedom of navigation in the area.
Sunday’s incident follows similar incidents in recent years and reflects the tensions that persist between Beijing and Canberra despite recent attempts to normalize trade relations. EFE
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