Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense PHOTO MOD.GOV. A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday that CN China responded professionally and safely to an Australian surveillance aircraft that approached the country's territorial airspace over the South China Sea.
On May 26, an Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft conducted close reconnaissance in the adjoining airspace of China's Xisha Islands and approached the airspace despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side, ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said in a statement.
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The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army mobilized naval and air forces to identify the craft and warn it off, he said.
On Sunday, Australia accused the Chinese military of putting an Australian Defense Force flight crew at risk when their plane, which was conducting surveillance over the South China Sea, was intercepted by a Chinese military plane.
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The Chinese military responded in a professional, safe, reasonable and lawful way, said the spokesman. He urged Australia to stop its dangerous provocative actions and strictly restrict its naval and air forces because of the firm opposition to Australia's account, which spread false information and agitated for confrontation.
Australia will be responsible for all the severe consequences, he said.