China accused Australia on Friday of deliberately provoking it with a maritime patrol in the disputed South China Sea this week, saying the latter was spreading "false narratives", though Australia maintained its action adhered to international law.

Australia has accused Beijing of “unsafe” military conduct after claiming a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea.

The Philippine foreign ministry said on Friday it was "concerned" over what it described as "unsafe maneuvers" and the use of flares by a Chinese air force plane against an Australian Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea.