Australia will continue to carry out surveillance in the South China Sea despite concerns over a recent incursion, Defence Minister Marise Payne says.
A radio recording emerged this week of a Royal Australian Air Force surveillance plane flying over the disputed sea.
The release of the recording prompted the Chinese government to warn other countries against "bringing up troubles" in the region.
Ms Payne has dismissed the concerns, saying Australia will continue to carry out routine surveillance in accordance with international law.
"Maritime surveillance and air surveillance are very important to the job that the ADF does in maintaining regional stability and security," she told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
"We always navigate in a very constructive way in the region."
Asked about the Australian incursion, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said navigation in the South China Sea was no problem.
"We hope other countries, especially those outside the region, will watch their words and actions, rather than bringing up troubles and deliberately complicating the situation in the South China Sea," he said on Tuesday.
"Some countries intentionally play up tension in the region so as to create disturbance and poke their noses into the South China Sea affairs. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to that."
The Chinese state-owned Global Times newspaper this week warned Australia against entering air space near the disputed sea.
"Australian military planes better not regularly come to the South China Sea to 'get involved' , and especially don't test China's patience by flying close to China's islands," the newspaper said according to the ABC.
"Everyone has always been careful, but it would be a shame if one day a plane fell from the sky and it happened to be Australian."
