"The intercept resulted in a dangerous manoeuvre which posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew," it said.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Perth that his government had expressed concerns to China "through appropriate channels".
China's embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Chinese jet flew very close in front of the RAAF aircraft and released a "bundle of chaff" containing small pieces of aluminium that were ingested into the Australian aircraft's engine.
