Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

In response to Australian defense ministry’s claim on Thursday that an Australian air force patrol aircraft experienced an “unsafe and unprofessional” interaction with a Chinese Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Australian military aircraft deliberately intruded into China's territorial airspace of Xisha Qundao without China's permission, infringing on China's sovereignty and endangering China's national security. 

China's measures to expel the aircraft were legitimate and exercised with professional restraint, he added.

China has lodged solemn representations to Australia, demanding that Australia stop its infringement and provocations and stop undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, the spokesperson said.

Global Times