Crystal Dike
Australia has accused a Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares dangerously close to one of its patrol jets over the South China Sea.
In a statement on Monday, the Australian Defence Department described the incident, which occurred on Sunday, as “unsafe and unprofessional,” adding that the government has raised its concerns with Beijing.
According to the department, the Australian P-8A patrol aircraft and its crew were unharmed, and no damage was reported. “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner,” the Australian Defence Force said.
When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said they were unaware of the report.
The latest encounter adds to a series of tense interactions between Australian and Chinese military forces in the region, where Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims overlap with those of several neighbouring countries.
Sunday’s event also coincided with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump, where discussions are expected to include Aukus — the multi-billion-dollar submarine pact between Australia, the US, and the UK.
This is not the first such confrontation. In February 2025, Australia accused a Chinese jet of dropping flares near one of its aircraft in the same area — a charge Beijing dismissed, saying the Australian jet had “intentionally intruded” into its airspace.
In May 2024, Canberra reported that a Chinese fighter plane dropped flares close to an Australian Navy helicopter participating in a UN Security Council mission over the Yellow Sea.
And in November 2023, Australia accused the Chinese navy of using sonar pulses in international waters off Japan, resulting in injuries to Australian divers.
While Australia has no territorial claims in the South China Sea, it has consistently backed the US and its allies in rejecting China’s sweeping maritime assertions as having no legal basis.