China has been accused of committing an "act of aggression" following an interaction between a Chinese fighter jet and Australian aircraft.

The Australian government criticised China over an "unsafe and unprofessional interaction" between a People's Liberation Army- Air Force aircraft and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft earlier this week.

The Chinese fighter aircraft, a PLA-AF Su-35 fighter aircraft had released flares "in close proximity" to the RAAF plane that had been patrolling in the South China Sea, according to a statement from the Department of Defence.

China's actions were more than unprofessional though according to Sky News political contributor Chris Uhlmann, who branded them "life-threatening behaviour" and an act of bullying.

"It wants

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