China says Australia ‘spreading false narratives’ and ‘stirring up trouble’ after South China Sea incident

China has accused Australia of spreading “false narratives” and provoking an incident in which a Chinese fighter plane released flares in front of a military plane. Australian defence officials revealed on Tuesday during daylight hours a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) jet released flares in the South China Sea within 30 metres of an Australian aircraft conducting “routine surveillance” of the contested waterways. Defence said no personnel were injured and there was no damage to the Australian aircraft, but that formal objections had been lodged with the PLA both in Canberra and Beijing. China says Australia “infringed upon China’s rights” after…