Australia Accuses China of Intercepting Plane over South Sea

Australia stated, on Sunday, that a Chinese fighter jet carried out dangerous maneuvers, threatening the safety of one of its maritime surveillance planes over the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed that his government expressed concern to China over the May 26 incident, which took place in international airspace where a Chinese J-16 intercepted a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft on routine patrol.

On his part, Defense Minister Richard Marles indicated that the Chinese J-16 flew very close to the Australian plane and released flares that were ingested by the engines of the Poseidon, a converted Boeing 737-800.

“The J-16 ... accelerated and cut across the nose of the P-8, settling in front of the P-8 at very close distance,” he told reporters in Melbourne. “At that moment, it then released a bundle of chaff, which contains small pieces of aluminium, some of which were ingested into the engine of the P-8 aircraft. Quite obviously, this is very dangerous.”

Moreover, he highlighted that the crew of the P-8 responded professionally and returned the aircraft to its base.

There was no official response Sunday from Beijing.

It is worth noting that the US and its allies have consistently challenged China by carrying out patrols and military exercises in the area, provoking angry responses from Beijing despite agreements aimed at reducing tensions.

“We’re operating completely within our rights ... most of our trade traverses the South China Sea,” Marles said. “This incident will not deter Australia from continuing to engage in these activities, which are within our rights and international law to assure that there is freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, because that is fundamentally in our nation’s interest.”