New Delhi: The Australian government says it has ‘expressed its concerns’ to Beijing regarding an interaction Tuesday over the South China Sea during which a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force fighter jet allegedly released “flares in close proximity” of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) maritime patrol aircraft.
Australia termed it an “unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre” by the PLA jet, while Beijing accused the Australian aircraft of “deliberately intruding” into its airspace.
The incident occurred when the RAAF P-8A Poseidon was conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea.
“The PLA-AF aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft. This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre by PLA-AF J-16 fighter aircraft that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” Australia said in a press statement.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News Australia that “Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jets released flares within 30 metres” of the RAAF aircraft. “That is an action that we’ve declared as being unsafe. We have made representations about our concerns to the Chinese government both yesterday and today here in Canberra, but also in Beijing,” said Marles, who is also the minister for defence.
The Chinese foreign ministry, in turn, accused the Australian aircraft of “deliberately intruding” into its airspace and “jeopardising” its national security, according to Reuters.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in a press conference Thursday: “The expulsion measures taken by the Chinese side are legitimate, professional and restrained, and China has lodged solemn representations with the Australian side.”
The two countries have had strained diplomatic ties given similar incidents over the South China Sea in the recent past.
Even as no injuries were sustained by Australian Defence Force personnel nor was damage caused to the RAAF P-8A, the Australian government stated: “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.”
For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace, it added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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