Australia has protested what it describes as an unsafe and unprofessional interaction over the South China Sea where a Chinese fighter is accused of releasing flares that endangered an Australian military surveillance plane.

A People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 fighter released flares 30 meters away in front of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon on patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday prompting the Australian government to express its concern to China on such actions.

Accusation comes after Australia says a Chinese military jet conducted ‘unsafe’ manoeuvres over international waters.

China has been quick to respond to claims a Chinese fighter jet released flares within 30 metres of an Australian aircraft.

Australia has raised concerns with China over what it said was "unsafe and unprofessional" actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

Australia spotted three Chinese warships sailing near its coast as Beijing accused Canberra of sending a spy plane into its "territorial airspace" over the contested South China Sea. Newsweek has contacted the Australian and Chinese militaries for comment by email.

China in turn accused the Australian plane of "deliberately" intruding into airspace over the disputed Paracel Islands,

No one was injured and there was no damage to Australia's P-8A surveillance jet after Tuesday's incident, the ministry said. But China said the Australian aircraft "intentionally intruded" into its airspace and that the Chinese fighter jet responded in a "legitimate,