Chinese fighter jet fires flares at Australian Poseidon aircraft

China’s Shenyang J-16 multi-role fighter jet fired decoy flares at a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Reuters reported on this.

The incident occurred the day before in the South China Sea during a patrol.

No one was injured, and the Australian P-8A aircraft was not damaged after the incident on Tuesday, the Ministry reported.

Australia has already expressed concern to China over the “dangerous and unprofessional” actions of the Chinese fighter jet concerning the incident.

China claimed that the Australian plane had “intentionally intruded” into its airspace.

The Chinese fighter jet responded in a “legitimate, legal, professional and restrained” manner.

On Tuesday, February 11, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducted surveillance in international waters of the South China Sea.

China raised its J-16 to accompany it, which released heat traps on approach. This happened within 30 meters (100 feet) of the RAAF plane, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated.

“This is an action that we have declared unsafe. We have communicated our concerns to the Chinese government both yesterday and today here in Canberra and also in Beijing,” Australian Defense Minister Richard shared.

This is the latest in a series of disputes between the two countries in a region where China has huge claims to international waters and the territories of its neighbors.

Last May, Australia accused a Chinese fighter jet of dropping flares near an Australian Navy helicopter that was part of a UN Security Council mission in the Yellow Sea.