In May 2024, Australia protested to China after one of its fighter jets intercepted and dropped flares close to an Australian helicopter in international waters in the Yellow Sea. In late October 2023, a Chinese warplane also used flares against a Canadian shipborne maritime helicopter over the South China Sea.

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,

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.