MELBOURNE, Australia — On Thursday, Australia expressed its concerns regarding what it termed an unsafe encounter in the South China Sea involving a Chinese fighter jet. This incident reportedly involved a Chinese J-16 fighter releasing flares that posed a threat to an Australian military surveillance aircraft.
According to Defense Minister Richard Marles, the flares were discharged on Tuesday and came alarmingly close to an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet, which was operating in international air space, within a mere 30 meters (about 100 feet). The P-8 typically has a crew of eight or nine members onboard. Thankfully, Marles confirmed that there were no injuries and the aircraft itself was not damaged during the encounter.
Marles emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating on Sky News that the proximity of the J-16 meant it was highly likely the flares could have struck the P-8. He went on to mention that any direct impact from the flares could have resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
In response, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, accused the Australian plane of “deliberately” intruding into the airspace surrounding the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by China. Guo argued that the actions taken by Chinese pilots to divert the aircraft were appropriate and conducted within legal and professional bounds.
Australia has lodged formal protests through diplomatic channels both in Canberra and Beijing over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, as stated by Marles. The official complaint characterized the maneuvers of the two Chinese pilots as “unsafe and unprofessional,” thereby posing a significant risk to the safety of the aircraft and its crew.
This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between the Chinese and Australian militaries, despite improvements in their diplomatic and trade relations. The recent interaction marks the first notable confrontation shared by Australia regarding its military engagements with China in the last nine months.
Last year, Australia also accused a J-10 fighter pilot of similar unsafe conduct during an incident over the Yellow Sea, where flares were released in close proximity to an Australian navy Seahawk helicopter. In that situation, the helicopter crew had to maneuver to avoid the flares, although there were no injuries or damage. Experts expressed concerns that an impact could have endangered the helicopter’s safety, potentially forcing it to ditch in the sea. At that time, China contended that the Australian helicopter had come too close to its airspace and was suspected of seeking information on a Chinese naval exercise.
