Australia's defence chief rejects Chinese spying claims

The Albanese government and Defence condemned the actions of the Chinese pilot after the helicopter was forced to take evasive action, putting the safety of the crew and aircraft at risk. Australia has lodged diplomatic protests with China, setting back the stabilisation of ties with Beijing. In his first comments on the confrontation, Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell dismissed the spy claim and said the Chinese actions were "unsafe and unprofessional". "The helicopter was behaving in a correct and disciplined fashion and I don't accept that the response was anything but unsafe and unprofessional," he said. "I require…