The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) blew up a South China Sea surveillance aircraft the day after a “dangerous” interception by a Chinese warplane.
A Chinese J-16 aircraft flew “very close” to a RAAF P-8A Poseidon, fired flares and dropped straw in its path while conducting routine surveillance in the South China Sea on 26 May.
A defense spokesman confirmed to 9news.com.au that another mission was carried out in the same region shortly afterwards.
A P-8 Poseidon aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force was intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet, according to the Department of Defense. (Department of Defense)
“The defense can confirm that a RAAF P-8A Poseidon conducted a scheduled mission on May 27, 2022 in the vicinity of the South China Sea the day after the incident,” the spokesman said.
The May 26 interception occurred in international waters off the coast of the Philippines, where the RAAF plane took off.
Earlier this month, China said the first RAAF Poseidon had entered the airspace near the Xisha Islands for closer surveillance.
“The Australian military aircraft seriously threatened China’s sovereignty and security, and the response measures taken by the Chinese military were professional, safe, reasonable and legal,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. , Zhao Lijian.
“The Australian side tried to confuse black and white and repeatedly spread the false narrative aimed at inciting antagonism and confrontation.”
The controversial waters of the South China Sea. (CNN / Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative)
Zhao then issued a warning.
“We urge the Australian side to immediately stop these dangerous and provocative acts and seriously deter their air and naval forces from these acts,” he said.
“Otherwise, any serious consequences will be borne by the Australian side.”
Part of the aluminum straw that dropped the Chinese J-16 jet entered one of the Poseidon’s engines.
A Chinese J-16 fighter jet. (Ministry of Defense of China)
Straw can severely damage a jet engine and can cause a shock.
Poseidon was able to return to base safely.
The Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, are an archipelago disputed in the South China Sea.
China, Vietnam and Taiwan are claiming de jure sovereignty over the islands, although China has taken control of them.
The US sends a destroyer to the territory claimed by the Chinese