This month has seen a series of provocative incidents between the Australian and Chinese militaries. Last week a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian military plane had a close encounter, with each side condemning the other.

Canberra rebuked Beijing for "unsafe" military conduct after the Chinese jet released flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea. However, the Chinese government accused the Australian plane of "violating Chinese sovereignty and endangering Chinese national security."

Following this, China sent warships down the eastern Australian coast, sailing just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney in a recent first.