The Defence Department on Thursday confirmed a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft targeted a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon in an incident on February 11.
The RAAF plane was flying over the South China Sea during daylight when flares were dropped above and in front of it, coming within 30m of the aircraft.
No Australian Defence Force personnel were injured and the plane was not damaged.
However, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a press conference on Thursday that Australia "jeopardised" China's national security, and the Chinese side took "proper, legal and professional measures to exercise restraint".
China's foreign ministry accused Australia of "deliberate intrusion" into its airspace.
Australia had spoken to Chinese officials in Canberra and Beijing about the incident, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
Had any of the flares hit the plane, it would have "definitely had the potential for significant damage" to the aircraft, he said.
"Clearly our defence forces are going to interact with each other," he told Sky News.
"We know that, but what's really important is that when they do, they do so in a manner which is safe and professional and this wasn't."
The federal government expressed its concerns to Beijing over the "unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel".
"Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner," Defence said in a statement.
"For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace."
It follows other incidents with the Chinese military as Beijing expands its influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Three Chinese navy warships have also been detected operating to the northeast of Australia in the Coral Sea.
The vessels, a Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang, a Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu - are operating within international law.
They have not sought access to an Australian port.
"Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia's right to do the same," the statement said.
"Defence will continue to monitor the activities of the task group in Australia's maritime approaches with a combination of capabilities, including air and maritime assets."
with Reuters
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