Australia Says China's Behavior 'Unacceptable' After Alleged Air Incident

Australia has accused China of endangering an Australian military helicopter over the Yellow Sea and said Beijing's behavior is "unacceptable."

"We've just made it very clear to China that this is unprofessional and that it's unacceptable," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an interview with Nine Network television.

Canberra accused Beijing of dropping flares close to an Australian helicopter on a UN mission in international waters over the weekend.

Albanese said that the Australian Defense Forces were taking part in an operation to enforce UN sanctions on North Korea.

"It's important that we make clear our position, which has been done at the diplomatic levels, at government to government, but also defense to defense as well. And all of those avenues have been made clear," he said.

However, Albanese said Beijing has not yet responded publicly to Australia's representations over the incident.

"I expect that they will do so. But I think the Australian public would expect some form of explanation about how this could occur, because it was not behavior that we expect when Australia is going about playing a role, as we do, an important role, as good international citizens," he added.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid -