Canberra is “hyping up tensions and sowing confrontation”, the Chinese government claimsafter Australia’s top diplomat aired “real concerns” about Beijing’s military aggression in the Indo-Pacific.Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she raised China’s “destabilising” test of a nuclear capable missile in the South Pacific with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a summit on Wednesday.Senator Wong said it was part of a bigger picture, pointing to a recent clash between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippines military.“We have said we have real concerns about behaviour that is destabilising and risky,” Senator Wong said, adding that “we want a region which is peaceful, stable and prosperous”.“We want a region where countries, all powers, including great powers, observe international law and in particular the law of the sea.“These are principles which go to the character of the region we live in and the stability and peace of the region in which we live.”In a daily press conference overnight, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian accused Australia of turning “a blind eye” to the Philippines’ “provocations” and making “groundless accusations against China”.“Apparently, whenever something happens at sea, the same few countries immediately point their fingers at China regardless of who exactly is at fault,” he said.“Are they trying to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable or simply to destabilise? I think the answer is quite clear.“We urge relevant countries to stop hyping up tensions and sowing confrontation, and earnestly respect regional countries’ effort for peace and stability in the South China Sea.”He also repeated the claim that this month’s missile launch was “a routine training activity of China’s military” despite it being the first known Chinese submarine-based test of its kind in more than four decades.It came as Australia finalised a mutual defence alliance with Fiji that could be extended to other countries in the Pacific.“It is not directed at any specific country or target,” Mr Lin said.“The Chinese side had notified relevant countries including Australia beforehand, as is consistent with international law and customary international practice.”Read related topics:China