Australia has accused a Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares close to its P-8A patrol jet over the South China Sea on Sunday. There was no harm to the aircraft and its personnel.China also accused the Australian jet of “illegally intruding” into China’s airspace, adding that it had to be expelled.Sunday’s encounter is the latest in a series of tensions between the two nations’ forces in the region, where China’s wide territorial claims overlap with those of neighbouring countries.In February, too, Australia accused a Chinese jet of dropping flares near its aircraft in the area, while China said the Australian plane had intentionally entered its airspace. Previous incidents also include a May 2024 flare drop near an Australian navy helicopter in the Yellow Sea and a November 2023 event where Beijing’s navy reportedly used sonar pulses off Japan, injuring Australian divers.The incident comes as Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese travels to the US for talks with president Donald Trump, where discussions on the Aukus submarine deal involving Australia, the US, and the UK are expected. Australia does not claim the South China Sea, but it aligns with the US and its allies in rejecting China’s territorial claims as legally baseless.
