Thread: Australia protests to China about ‘unsafe’ aircraft maneuver over Paracels

Australia and China traded blame over an incident above the disputed Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea, adding to an already volatile situation in the region.


A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft experienced an “unsafe and unprofessional interaction” with a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft on Tuesday, the Australian Defence Force, or defense department, said in a statement.


The Australian jet was conducting routine surveillance in the South China Sea at the time, it said.


Australia said the Chinese jet had released flares close to the Australian jet.


“This was an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” the Australian department said.


No crew member was injured in the incident and the jet was not damaged but Australia said it “expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.”


Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told Sky News that the Chinese J-16 was “so close that there’s no way you could have been able to ensure that the flares did not hit the P-8.”


“Had any of those flares hit the P-8, that would have definitely had the potential for significant damage to that aircraft,” he said.


Flares, when fired at an aircraft at close proximity, could get into the engine and cause the plane to crash. Yet they are regularly used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force against foreign assets.


In May 2024, Australia protested to China after one of its fighter jets intercepted and dropped flares close to an Australian helicopter in international waters in the Yellow Sea.


In late October 2023, a Chinese warplane also used flares against a Canadian shipborne maritime helicopter over the South China Sea.

Manila’s response


Philippine officials on Friday spoke out against Tuesday’s incident involving the Chinese jet.


“The Philippine government is concerned over the unsafe maneuvers and deployment of flares at close proximity conducted by a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft against an Australian Air Force aircraft,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.


“All countries are expected to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in and above international sea lines of communication, such as the South China Sea, and to avoid interference in legitimate activities conducted in international waters and airspace,” it said.


On Wednesday, four Chinese ships and a helicopter were sighted near a “multilateral maritime cooperative activity” conducted by the Philippines, the United States and Canada within Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. Philippine military officials said the Chinese forces maintained distance and did not interfere.


Disputed Paracel islands


China rejected Australia’s latest complaint, saying the Australian military aircraft “deliberately intruded into China’s airspace over Xisha Qundao.”


The archipelago that China calls Xisha, known internationally as the Paracel islands, is claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.


It has been under Beijing’s control since 1974 when Chinese troops took it from South Vietnam in a battle that killed 74 Vietnamese sailors.


Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the Australian aircraft’s operation “violated China’s sovereignty and harmed our national security.”


“China’s response to warn away the airplane was legitimate, lawful, professional and restrained,” Guo said. “Our message is quite clear: Stop the provocations and infringement on China’s sovereignty, and stop turning the South China Sea into a less peaceful and stable place.”


Defense Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accused Australia of “spreading false narratives.


“It should be pointed out that the Australian military aircraft ignored the main road in the South China Sea and intruded into other people’s homes,” Zhang told reporters. “China’s expulsion of them is completely reasonable, legal and beyond reproach, and is a legitimate defense of national sovereignty and security.”


The P-8A Poseidon’s surveillance patrol is a normal activity that does not violate any regulations, said Abdul Rahman Yaacob, research fellow at Australia’s Lowy Institute think tank.


“Australia has an interest in an open and free maritime domain as it is an island,” Rahman told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews. “Also the Paracel archipelago is a disputed territory, China’s claims over it were rejected by an international tribunal in 2016 so legally China doesn’t have the right to respond aggressively like that.”


In addition to the protest, the Australian defense department issued a note on Chinese vessels operating in waters to the north of Australia.

PLA ships near Australia


The department said it could confirm the Chinese warships were the PLA Navy’s Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai cruiser Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment ship Weishanhu.


The three ships are not believed to have intruded into Australian territorial waters and only transited its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).


“They could be trying to familiarize themselves with the waters around Australia,” Lowy’s Abdul Rahman Yaacob said. “But the most likely reason is to test Australian surveillance capabilities, such as how fast can Australia detect their movements.”


Rahman said Chinese submarine drones had long been suspected of operating in Indonesian and Philippine waters.


“I would not discount that in the future we may find Chinese submarine drones operating close to or within Australia’s EEZ.” he said.


In 2022, Chinese spy ship Haiwangxing was tracked within 50 nautical miles of Australia’s west coast after crossing into its EEZ, setting off alarms.


Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, is expected to visit Canberra next week, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corp., adding that Paparo is in charge of U.S. preparations for any conflict with China.

Access Denied

The west are such pussies.

I agree. I once saw online an RAF bigwig say 30 0r 40 years ago the west would have shot down Russian planes who did some of the provocations tolerated today. And the Russians knew it. We've gone soft.

Chinky bastards at it again.

More bullshit for Dutton to politicise before the election

Good news.

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If you behave like them, you become them. You don't start paths to war over petulance but rather retort like an adult who is actually running the world.

Bloody Aussies causing trouble again!

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Good news.

Peter Dutton most likely to be next prime minister, according to YouGov poll - ABC News

Peter Dutton is an idiot. And he looks like Voldemort.


Economic meltdown: Counting the real cost of Peter Dutton’s nuclear fantasy | Climate Council

https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen...-more-sit-dark

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Originally Posted by Salsa dancer

And he looks like Voldemort.

What a pathetic comment.