China has accused Australia of “provocative acts” and “illegal intrusion” after a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) surveillance plane was targeted by flares from a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea on Sunday, prompting a strong diplomatic protest from Canberra.
According to Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles, the P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft was conducting a routine maritime surveillance mission in international airspace when a Chinese fighter jet released flares dangerously close to it — twice — creating what he described as an “unsafe and unprofessional” situation.
Although the RAAF crew landed safely and no one was injured, the Australian government lodged a formal diplomatic complaint with Beijing, citing serious safety concerns.
China, however, rejected the accusation, claiming the Australian aircraft had “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace over the Paracel Islands (Xisha Qundao). In a statement, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command spokesperson Li Jianjian said Chinese forces were authorised to take “strong countermeasures” and warned Australia to “immediately cease its infringements and provocations.”
“The theatre command’s troops remain on high alert at all times and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security,” the statement said.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticised Beijing’s actions as “highly risky” and reaffirmed that Australia would continue to assert its right to freedom of navigation and overflight under international law.
“What we would say to China is that it’s not only unsafe and unprofessional, but highly risky,” Senator Wong said on Tuesday. “We will not step back from asserting our rights in international waters and airspace.”
Mr Marles added that while flare releases are sometimes part of standard military communication, the proximity in this case made the incident dangerous. “At a distance, it can simply mean ‘we see you’, but this was too close for safety,” he said.
The Defence Minister emphasised that Australia’s surveillance flights were lawful and essential to maintaining a rules-based order in the South China Sea, through which most of Australia’s trade passes.
“There are lots of interactions between our two defence forces, and by and large they are safe and professional — but when they’re not, we will call it out,” he said.
An Australian Defence Force spokesman reiterated that the ADF operates in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and expects all nations — including China — to act safely and professionally.
