Australia military plane in South China Sea threatens sovereignty: Beijing

Tan Kefei, spokesman at the Chinese defence ministry, said Australian military aircraft seriously threatened China's sovereignty and security and the countermeasures taken by the Chinese military were reasonable and lawful.

China said on Tuesday that its military has identified Australian military aircraft and warned them to leave after Australia said fighter aircraft intercepted one of its military surveillance planes in the South China Sea.

Chinese structures and buildings on the man-made Fiery Cross Reef at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea . (AP)

Tan Kefei, spokesman at the Chinese defence ministry, said Australian military aircraft seriously threatened China's sovereignty and security and the countermeasures taken by the Chinese military were reasonable and lawful.

A Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia's defence department said on Sunday.