Sky News contributor Chris Uhlmann says the Australian government has not been “strong” against China for its fighter jet dropping flares in front of an Australian Navy helicopter.

A Chinese fighter jet dropped flares in front of an Australian Navy helicopter in international waters off the coast of South Korea on Saturday evening.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has condemned the incident as unacceptable.

Mr Uhlmann told Sky News host Peta Credlin that it was an “act of hostility” committed in international waters.

“Which endangered, yet again, the lives of our service men and women.”