Defense Minister Richard Marles says the interception of one of Australia’s maritime surveillance planes by a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea last month was a “very dangerous” situation.
In a statement, the Defense Department said that on May 26, a RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter during a routine maritime surveillance activity in international airspace in the South China Sea region.
“The interception resulted in a dangerous maneuver that posed a threat to the safety of the P-8 aircraft and its crew,” he said.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government has expressed concerns with the Chinese government through the right channels.
“I will not comment further on this, apart from saying that, in the opinion of the Australian government, from the point of view of the Department of Defense, this was not certain, what happened,” he told reporters in Perth on Sunday. before embarking on an officer. trip to Indonesia.
Defense says a RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter. Credit: AAP
Marles said the Chinese J-16 plane flew very close to the side of the Australian plane, where it fired flares.
“The J-16 then accelerated and cut the nose of the P-8 and settled in front of the P-8 at a very close distance,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.
“At that time, he released a package of straw, which contained small pieces of aluminum, some of which were ingested into the engine of the P-8 aircraft.
“Obviously, that’s very dangerous.”
The department said Defense has been conducting maritime surveillance activities in the region for decades and is doing so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.