Chinese fighter jet in ‘unsafe, unprofessional’ incident with Australian Air Force
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The news: A Chinese fighter jet fired flares within 30 metres of an Australian Air Force aircraft in the contested South China Sea, in what Australia describes as an “unsafe and unprofessional interaction”.
The context: The incident occurred on Tuesday, during a routine daytime flight conducted by a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in an undisclosed part of the volatile region.
China has become increasingly aggressive in the South China Sea, where it has been involved in several violent maritime incidents in recent years.
The flares were fired in front and above the Australian aircraft, with Defence saying the incident “posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel”.
Australia has expressed its concern to the Chinese government, both in Canberra and Beijing, about the “unsafe and unprofessional interaction".
The flight was being conducted solely by Australia’s airforce; the crew was not harmed, and no damage was caused during the incident.
It is the latest manoeuvre by Chinese forces which Canberra has described as “unsafe and unprofessional”.
In November 2023, Australian navy divers suffered minor injuries after being targeted with sonar attacks from a Chinese warship. And in 2024, a similar incident to the one disclosed on Tuesday occurred in the Yellow Sea.
In a concurrent statement on Tuesday, Defence also revealed that three Chinese naval vessels – a frigate, a cruiser and a replenishment vessel – are currently operating north east of Australia. One passed miles from Australian land in the Torres Strait on Tuesday.
The lane the vessels were travelling in is regularly used by international ships.
Defence said the two incidents were not related, and the vessels were operating within international law.
In 2023, two Chinese spy ships were also deployed near Australia to monitor the Talisman Sabre military exercises in Queensland, though they did not violate international law.
What they said: “The safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority. Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner,” Defence said in a statement.
The sources: Defence statements, ABC
