In response to Australian defense department's recent claim that an Australian air force patrol aircraft experienced an "unsafe and unprofessional" interaction with a Chinese Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that Australia deliberately provoked and infringed upon China's rights in the South China Sea on February 11, and then falsely accused China, spreading misleading narratives. China firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with Australia.

While Australian military aircraft could have taken the main routes in the South China Sea, they chose to intrude into another country's territory. China's actions to drive it away are completely reasonable, legal, and beyond reproach. China's actions are a legitimate defense of national sovereignty and security, Zhang said in a statement published by the ministry on Friday.

We urge Australia to abandon its reckless and opportunistic fantasies, to strictly restrain the actions of its frontline naval and air forces, and not to act as a follower, stirring up trouble in the South China Sea to the detriment of others and itself, said Zhang.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Australian military airplane deliberately intruded into China's airspace over Xisha Qundao without China's permission. Such move violated China's sovereignty and undermined China's national security.

The Chinese side took legitimate, lawful, professional and restrained measures to expel the airplane. China has lodged serious protests with Australia and urged it to stop infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocations and stop disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Guo.