A Chinese fighter plane dangerously intercepted an Australian
navy surveillance aircraft within the South China Sea area in May,
Australia’s defence division mentioned on Sunday, Trend experiences citing
Reuters.
The Royal Australian Air Force P-8 maritime surveillance
plane was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter throughout “routine
maritime surveillance exercise” in worldwide airspace within the
area on May 26, defence mentioned in an announcement.
“The intercept resulted in a harmful manoeuvre which posed a
security risk to the P-8 plane and its crew,” it mentioned.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed reporters in Perth that his
authorities had expressed considerations to China “by applicable
channels”.
China’s embassy in Australia didn’t instantly reply to a
request for remark.
Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned the Chinese jet flew very
shut in entrance of the RAAF plane and launched a “bundle of
chaff” containing small items of aluminium that have been ingested into
the Australian plane’s engine.
“Quite obviously this is very dangerous,” Marles informed ABC
tv.
Australia has beforehand joined the United States in stating
that China’s claims round contested islands within the South China Sea
don’t adjust to worldwide regulation.
Defence mentioned for many years it had undertaken maritime surveillance
within the area and “does so in accordance with worldwide regulation,
exercising the proper to freedom of navigation and overflight in
worldwide waters and airspace”.
