China accused Australia of deliberately "provoking" China in the South China Sea this week, and of "invading" and "breaking into" the homes of others, its defence ministry said on Friday.

China on Friday accused Australia of deliberately provoking it with a maritime patrol in the disputed South China Sea. The Asian country said Australia was spreading false narratives, but Australia maintained that its action adhered to international law.

Australia has protested what it describes as an unsafe and unprofessional interaction over the South China Sea where a Chinese fighter is accused of releasing flares that endangered an Australian mili