Australia Protests “Unsafe” Chinese Military Jet Intercept
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – Australia has formally protested to China following an incident over the South China Sea on Sunday, where a Chinese military aircraft released flares in close proximity to an Australian P-8A patrol jet.The Australian Defence Department described the manoeuvre as “unsafe and unprofessional.”
According to a statement released Monday, the Australian aircraft sustained no damage and no personnel were injured during the encounter.
China’s Southern Theater Command Air Force defended its actions,claiming the Australian jet “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace and was “expelled.” Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, a spokesperson for the command, stated the Australian aircraft’s actions “seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty” and urged Canberra to “instantly cease its infringing and provocative actions.”
The Australian Defence Force reiterated its expectation that all nations, including China, operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.
This incident marks the latest in a series of concerning interactions between Australian and Chinese military forces in the region. In February, Australia accused a Chinese jet of dropping flares near an Australian aircraft in the same area. At that time, China maintained its response was “lawful and restrained” and alleged the Australian jet intentionally entered its airspace.
Further incidents include accusations from May of last year involving a Chinese fighter plane dropping flares near an Australian navy helicopter during a UN Security Council mission in the Yellow Sea, and a November 2023 claim that a Chinese navy vessel used sonar pulses in international waters off japan, causing injuries to Australian divers.
Australia, while not directly claiming territory in the South China Sea, aligns with the United States and its allies in rejecting the legal basis of China’s expansive claims in the region.
The incident occurred as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travels to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump, where the Aukus security pact – a multi-billion dollar submarine deal between australia, the US, and the UK – is expected to be a key topic of discussion.
