China accuses Australian navy helicopter of flying near airspace in 'provocative move'

China's foreign ministry has accused an Australian navy helicopter of deliberately flying "within close range" of Chinese airspace in a "provocative move" in the latest military altercation between the two nations. The Australian government said China released flares in front of the helicopter in the Yellow Sea as HMAS Hobart participated in an operation to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea. The Australian government has maintained the helicopter was in international waters in the Yellow Sea, between the Chinese and Korean coastlines, and strongly condemned the alleged actions of the Chinese jet pilot. But in China's first reaction to…