Australia has raised concerns with China after an Australian military helicopter was forced to take evasive action following an encounter with a Chinese navy helicopter.

An Australian Defence Force (ADF) MH-60R helicopter launched from the frigate HMAS Toowoomba in the Yellow Sea was intercepted by a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) helicopter on Wednesday.

The Department of Defence said the MH-60R was undertaking routine activities as part of Operation Argos, Australia’s contribution to enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

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The ministry said the PLA-N helicopter matched the Australian aircraft’s altitude before closing to an unsafe distance in what it described as an “unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre”.

In this Thursday, April 19, 2018, photo, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba is docked at Saigon port in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Credit: The Anh/Vietnam News Agency via AP

“This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to our aircraft and its personnel,” the ADF statement read.

“While there were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel or damage caused to the MH-60R helicopter, the safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority.

“Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.”

In October, a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares in front of an Australian surveillance plane over the South China Sea.

No Australian personnel were hurt in the interaction, but Defence Minister Richard Marles said at the time the outcome could have been different.