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Chinese jet accused of dropping flares near Australian plane patrolling South China Sea

Canberra criticised the ‘unsafe’ manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel

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Australia accused a Chinese J-16 fighter jet of dropping flares near its military plane patrolling the South China Sea. Photo: AP
Reuters
Australia has raised concerns with China over what it said was “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was conducting a routine surveillance patrol in international waters in the South China Sea when a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet released flares within 30 metres (100 feet) of the RAAF aircraft, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday.

“That is an action that we’ve declared as being unsafe. We have made representations about our concerns to the Chinese government both yesterday and today here in Canberra, but also in Beijing,” Marles said in a television interview with Sky News Australia.

Australia’s defence department also noted that a Chinese navy task group was operating in Australia’s north.

A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel had entered Australia’s maritime approaches, with the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang transiting the waters to Australia’s north, the defence department said in a separate statement on Thursday.

Australia’s air force and navy were monitoring the Chinese frigate, which had transited the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and remained in Australia’s exclusive economic zone, Marles said.

02:16

Australian leader slams China for ‘unacceptable’ use of flares near military helicopter

Australian leader slams China for ‘unacceptable’ use of flares near military helicopter
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