China, Australia trade barbs over helicopter flare incident above Yellow Sea [Video]

China and Australia have escalated the blame game over a dangerous aerial encounter above the Yellow Sea, with China’s Defence Ministry claiming the Australian military acted provocatively by conducting short-range reconnaissance of its military assets.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood by Australia’s explanation of the incident, accusing Beijing of offering a contradictory rationale for the interception, in which a Chinese fighter jet set off flares near an Australian navy helicopter on Saturday night, forcing the helicopter pilot to take evasive action.

The dispute came as Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced $110 million in new funding for the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, and revealed Australia and Tuvalu were pushing ahead with a high-profile climate resettlement and security treaty struck last year.

Under the agreement, Tuvalu would need to consult Australia before signing a security agreement with another …