Beijing has accused Canberra of “exaggerating” the interception of Chinese fighter jets by an Australian military reconnaissance aircraft last month.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon was conducting routine surveillance in the international airspace over the South China Sea on May 26 when the J-16 jet flew “very close”. he fired flares and dropped straw in his path, the Department of Defense said.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the federal government had expressed concern about the “very dangerous” interception with the Chinese government. A Chinese fighter jet intercepted a Chinese fighter jet, according to the Department of Defense. (Defense Department) But the state-backed Global Times claimed that the Australian military had hidden key details about the incident in an editorial entitled “Hyping” the “dangerous interception” of the PLA, to which he returns Australia acting? “
“For example, where exactly is the area where the incident took place in the South China Sea? How far is it from the Chinese islands and reefs in the region? What is its purpose here?” says the article.
“Also, what did the Australian military plane do before the interception? How far was the Australian plane from the Chinese plane at that time? Why didn’t Australia take the initiative to announce it?”
Marles said the Chinese plane had flown near the RAAF plane before launching “small pieces of aluminum” into the air.
The Australian plane returned to base and its crew was unharmed.
The Global Times accused Marles of playing the media in his comments.
He noted that his response was echoed by government comments in February when the Australian military said a Chinese navy ship fired a laser at one of its planes.
A Chinese J-16 fighter jet. (Ministry of Defense of China)
“This time, Marles also pretended to be ‘the weak one’ and said in front of a journalist’s microphone that Australia would not be deterred by China’s intimidation.
“This is obviously a tone favored by American and Western journalists, and Australian politicians know it well and choose what they want to hear.”
The editorial also urged the new Labor government not to follow its coalition predecessor in the effort to become Washington’s “right hand” in the Pacific.
“Canberra’s approach is inadequate and reckless … the key is that Canberra must take real action … No one can act like Washington’s ‘goon’ while making a fortune with China.”
The vast South China Sea has become a major dispute between China and other countries, including Australia.
Why the South China Sea dispute is important
Tensions over disputed waters have risen since 2014, as China has turned sandbanks into islands, equipping them with airfields, ports and weapons systems, and warned Western warships and aircraft. that they would move away from them.