China denounces Australia's provocative operations in Yellow Sea

A Chinese military response to an Australian aircraft that was conducting close-range reconnaissance against China in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea was justified, reasonable, and professional, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Friday night.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin made the remarks in a statement in response to the Australian defense department, which claimed earlier on Friday that a Chinese military aircraft had made "an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver" around an Australian naval helicopter on Wednesday.

The Australian side claimed the helicopter was enforcing a United Nations Security Council resolution in the international waters of the Yellow Sea.

Jiang said the Australian side's remarks distorted facts and "turned black into white", expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. He noted that China's actions were fully in line with international law and international practice.

He said that in recent days the Australian frigate Toowoomba, under the pretext of "implementing a UN Security Council resolution", has repeatedly dispatched helicopters to conduct close-range reconnaissance against China in waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea and has continued provocative actions, endangering China's national security.

"In response to Australia's infringements and harassment, the Chinese military promptly took resolute and forceful measures," he said.

Jiang stressed that UN Security Council resolutions have never authorized any country to deploy forces and conduct surveillance activities in the sea and airspace under another country's jurisdiction on the grounds of monitoring violations of the resolutions.

China will never tolerate any actions, under the guise of implementing UN Security Council resolutions, which endanger China's national sovereignty and security, and will take firm countermeasures, he said.

The spokesman urged Australia to earnestly respect China's concerns over sovereignty and security and immediately stop spreading false information.

Jiang also urged the Australian side to strictly restrain the actions of its forces at sea and in the air, refrain from any risky provocations, and stop doing things that undermine regional peace and stability.