Australia Condemns 'Highly Risky' Chinese Flare Incident

Australia has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing following an incident where a Chinese fighter jet released flares near a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) surveillance plane operating in international airspace over the South China Sea. The RAAF P-8A patrol plane was conducting routine maritime surveillance on Sunday when the encounter occurred.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the Chinese action as "highly risky" and "unsafe and unprofessional." She stated that Australia would continue to assert its rights to overflight and freedom of navigation in international waters and airspace, emphasizing the importance of national interest and the safety of Australian defence personnel.

Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that flare drops can be a standard form of communication between military aircraft, often used to signal acknowledgement. However, he clarified that the proximity and manner in which the flares were released in this instance were deemed unsafe and unprofessional. "If it is very close, then it can be dangerous, and that's what we see is the case here in terms of the proximity with which this happened on two occasions where the flares were released, and that's why we're calling it out," Marles stated.

The Chinese military, through a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command, Li Jianjian, claimed the Australian P-8A aircraft had "illegally intruded" into China's territorial airspace over the Xisha Qundao, also known as the Paracel Islands. The statement asserted that naval and air forces were authorized to take "strong countermeasures to expel the Australian aircraft" and issued a stern warning to Australia to cease "infringements and provocative acts." The command stated its troops remain on high alert to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and regional peace.

Despite the Chinese assertion, Australia maintains its patrol was a routine maritime surveillance operation conducted in international airspace and international waters, adhering to international law. An Australian Defence Force spokesman reiterated that Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner. The ADF has a long history of conducting maritime surveillance in the region in accordance with international law, exercising rights to freedom of navigation and overflight.

The incident has drawn criticism from the opposition, with Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson calling the government's response "weak" and accusing the Defence Minister of downplaying China's actions. He highlighted previous incidents involving Chinese military interactions with Australian forces.

Australia's assertion of rights in the South China Sea is underscored by the region's significance to its trade routes. The government emphasizes the importance of a rules-based order in the South China Sea, which is fundamental to Australia's national interest. While acknowledging that interactions between the two defence forces generally occur safely and professionally, Australia intends to make public any interactions deemed unsafe and unprofessional.