Beijing Escalates Criticism of Australia Over South China Sea Military Encounter

Beijing has intensified its criticism of Australia following a tense military encounter over the South China Sea, accusing the Australian Defence Force of spreading “twisted and absurd propaganda” and deliberately “provoking” China in the disputed region.

The diplomatic row erupted after the Australian government disclosed on Monday that a Chinese fighter jet had released two flares dangerously close to an Australian P8 surveillance plane near the Paracel Islands. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles condemned the action as “unsafe and unprofessional,” though he confirmed no Australian crew members were injured and the aircraft sustained no damage.

China’s response has grown increasingly forceful. After an initial rejection of Australia’s account by the Southern Theatre Command, which accused Australia of “violating China’s sovereignty” and “intruding” into “China’s airspace,” Defence Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin escalated the rhetoric today.

“Australia’s infringement and provocations were against China, yet its false accusation that China’s actions to defend its rights are ‘unsafe’ and ‘unprofessional’ is a twisted and absurd argument that holds no water anywhere,” Jiang stated. He described the fighter jet’s actions as “lawful, legitimate, professional, and restrained.”

The Chinese Defence Ministry urged Australia to “immediately cease its infringing provocations and inflammatory propaganda” and “strictly restrain the actions of its frontline naval and air forces” to avoid damaging bilateral relations between the two countries.

The statement has gained significant traction on Chinese social media, trending on Weibo with nearly 2 million views by Wednesday morning, indicating how Beijing is leveraging the incident for domestic consumption.

This confrontation marks the latest in a series of tense encounters between Australian and Chinese military forces. Previous incidents have included Chinese aircraft deploying flares and releasing chaff near Australian planes, as well as using sonar when Australian navy divers were operating underwater.

Dr. Lowell Bautista, an associate professor at Western Sydney University School of Law, characterized China’s statement as among the “strongest public protests” regarding Australia’s South China Sea patrols in recent years. He noted that China’s description of Australia’s actions as “provocative” and “absurd propaganda” reflects Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in what it considers its sphere of influence.

“This kind of rhetoric is part of a broader pattern in China’s strategic communications — signalling displeasure, asserting control over the narrative, and deterring what it views as foreign military presence in contested waters,” Dr. Bautista explained. “It is also intended for a domestic audience, reinforcing China’s position as defending sovereignty and national dignity.”

The Paracel Islands remain disputed territory under international law, despite China’s claims of ownership. The archipelago is also claimed by Vietnam, and sits within a region where multiple nations, including the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia, have competing territorial claims.

The incident highlights fundamental differences in how both nations view maritime operations in the region. “This incident was not simply a military encounter, but a clash of legal and strategic world views,” Dr. Bautista said. “Australia sees these patrols as routine operations under international law; China sees them as provocations.”

Despite the heated exchange, Dr. Bautista doesn’t expect the incident to derail the already “fragile” relations between China and Australia, as both countries have strong incentives to prevent such confrontations from escalating further. The two nations have been working to stabilize their relationship after several years of tension over trade, security, and human rights issues.

A spokesperson for Defence Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on China’s latest statement.