A Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian military aircraft in what Defence has described as an “unsafe and unprofessional” encounter in the South China Sea earlier this week.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during daylight hours, when a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) J-16 came within 30 meters of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) P-8 Poseidon. While no injuries or damage to the P-8 were reported, the Australian government has formally raised concerns with both Canberra and Beijing.
Defence officials issued a statement emphasizing that Australia expects all nations, including China, to conduct their military operations in a safe and professional manner.
In a separate matter, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) revealed that it is closely monitoring three Chinese warships operating in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia. These vessels, which include the Jiangki-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu, are operating legally under international law.
Defence reassured the public that it will continue to observe these ships’ activities in Australian maritime regions using a range of surveillance capabilities, including air and sea assets.