BEIJING, Oct. 22 -- "Australia has infringed upon and provoked China, yet slandered China's defense actions as 'unsafe' and 'unprofessional'. Such fallacies are utterly unacceptable anywhere," said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), in a statement on Wednesday.
The spokesperson made the above remarks when responding to a recent statement of the Australian Government Department of Defence, which claimed that the Chinese PLA Air Force aircraft conducted "unsafe, unprofessional maneuver" and released flares to the RAAF P-8A aircraft patrolling the South China Sea on October 19, and this has "posed a risk" to the aircraft and its personnel.
记者：澳大利亚国防部近日发布声明称，10月19日澳军P-8A巡逻机在南海巡逻时，中方军机对其采取“不安全和不专业互动”，施放干扰弹，对澳飞机和人员“构成危险”。请问中方对此有何评论？
"The Australia's statement is a blatant distortion of facts. It falsely accused China, attempting to cover up the vile act of its military aircraft illegally intruding into China's airspace. We are strongly dissatisfied with this and have lodged stern representations with the Australian side," slammed Spokesperson Jiang.
蒋斌：澳方有关声明颠倒黑白，对中方倒打一耙，妄图掩盖其军机非法侵闯中国领空的恶劣行径，我们对此强烈不满，已向澳方提出严正交涉。
It should be emphasized that the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command organized its troops to firmly intercept and expel the Australian military aircraft that violated the airspace of China's Xisha, and the relevant actions were legitimate, professional and restrained, the spokesperson continued, adding that "Australia has infringed upon and provoked China, yet slandered China's defense actions as 'unsafe' and 'unprofessional'. Such fallacies are utterly unacceptable anywhere."
The spokesperson urged the Australian side to immediately cease its infringement, provocation and incitement, strictly restrain the actions of its frontline maritime and aerial forces, and avoid undermining the relations between China and Australia and their militaries. "The Chinese military will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability," he stressed.
需要强调的是，中国人民解放军南部战区组织兵力对侵闯中国西沙领空的澳军机坚决拦阻驱离，相关行动正当合法、专业克制。澳方对中方侵权挑衅，却反诬中方维权行动“不安全”“不专业”，这样的歪理谬论在哪儿都说不通。我们敦促澳方立即停止侵权挑衅和煽宣炒作，严格约束一线海空兵力行动，避免破坏中澳两国两军关系。中国军队将继续采取必要措施，坚决捍卫国家主权安全，坚定维护地区和平稳定。
