Australia has lodged a complaint with Beijing following an incident where a Chinese military aircraft reportedly released flares in close proximity to an Australian patrol jet over the South China Sea. The Australian government has officially expressed its concerns, labeling the maneuver as “unsafe and unprofessional.” This action occurred on Sunday, according to the Australian Defence Department’s statement on Monday. Fortunately, the Australian P-8A aircraft sustained no damage, and its crew remained unharmed.
Australia maintains that it expects all nations, including China, to conduct their military operations with a high degree of safety and professionalism. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated they were unaware of the incident when questioned by reporters.
This event marks another in a series of recent encounters between the military forces of Australia and China in the strategically important South China Sea region. This area is characterized by overlapping territorial claims by China and its neighboring countries.
The incident also took place as the Australian Prime Minister was en route to the United States for a significant meeting with President Donald Trump. Discussions between the two leaders were anticipated to focus on the Aukus security pact, a multi-billion dollar submarine deal involving Australia, the US, and the UK.
Australia previously accused a Chinese fighter jet of deploying flares near one of its aircraft in the same region back in February. At that time, China asserted that the Australian jet had unlawfully entered its airspace and that China’s response was both “lawful and restrained.”
While Australia does not claim territorial rights in the South China Sea, it has consistently supported the stance of the US and its allies, asserting that China’s territorial claims lack legal foundation.
Last May, Australia similarly accused a Chinese fighter plane of releasing flares near an Australian navy helicopter. This incident occurred while the helicopter was participating in a UN Security Council mission in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Korea.
Furthermore, in November 2023, Canberra reported that China’s navy had utilized sonar pulses in international waters near Japan. This action reportedly led to injuries among Australian divers.
