The federal government says it will not be intimidated by the dangerous actions of a Chinese plane into an Australian surveillance plane in the South China Sea last month.
Key points:
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Australian plane intercepted by Chinese fighter over South China Sea last month
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The Australian government has expressed concern about the incident with the Chinese government
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Australia has been conducting maritime surveillance activities in the region for decades
The Department of Defense revealed that a Chinese J-16 fighter jet flew near a RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft on May 26 during a routine patrol in international airspace.
The defense says the Chinese plane fired flares while flying alongside the Australian plane, before cutting in front of the P-8 and releasing a bag of “straw” on its flight path, which included fragments of aluminum. which were aspirated to the Australian engine. plane.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government has expressed concern over the incident with the Chinese government.
“We are concerned about this incident. We have expressed these concerns through the appropriate channels,” he said.
“In the opinion of the Australian government, according to the Department of Defense, this was not certain, what happened, and we have made the appropriate representations to the Chinese government expressing our concern about this.”
Defense Minister Richard Marles says Australia will continue its legal operations in the South China Sea.
“This incident will not deter Australia from continuing to engage in these activities that are within our rights under international law, to ensure that there is freedom of navigation in the South China Sea because that is primarily in the interests of our nation.” said Mr. Marles.
Defense Minister Richard Marles says Australia will not be deterred by China’s intimidation. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
“We obviously do not want to see an increase in militarization in the South China Sea.
“This is a body of water that is deeply connected to Australia,” he said, citing the sea as a key corridor for trade.
“We will not be deterred from participating in the activities to which we are entitled.”
Australia has been conducting maritime surveillance activities in the region for decades under Operation Gateway.
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Second ‘act of intimidation’ this year
This is the second time Chinese military forces have clashed dangerously with Australian forces this year, after a Chinese navy ship shone a laser on a RAAF plane in February.
On 17 February, RAAF P-8A Poseidon detected a military-grade laser illuminating the aircraft while flying in northern Australia.
There were up to 10 people on board the plane when the incident occurred.
The Department of Defense says the Chinese ship, along with another People’s Liberation Army and Navy (PLA-N) ship, was sailing east through the Arafura Sea at the time.
Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the incident as an “act of intimidation” that endangered the lives of the Defense Forces.