A Canadian military helicopter in the South China Sea with “unknown intentions” broke both Chinese and international law, according to a statement released by China’s defense ministry on Saturday.

A spokesman for the ministry said in a statement that the action was “malicious,” “provocative,” and motivated by “ulterior motives,” endangering China’s security and sovereignty.

Canada’s defense minister on Friday accused Chinese warplanes of buzzing the Canadian helicopter over international waters in the South China Sea the previous weekend and firing flares at it, putting the crew in danger.

China’s response was professional and in line with norms, the defense ministry spokesman said.