Australia has accused a Chinese military jet of conducting unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers after allegedly releasing flares dangerously close to an Australian P-8A patrol aircraft over the South China Sea on Sunday.
The Australian Defence Department confirmed that while the incident occurred on October 19, the aircraft sustained no damage and all personnel remained safe.
In an official statement, Canberra said it had raised the matter with Beijing, calling the action “unsafe, unprofessional, and contrary to international aviation norms.”
In response, Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, spokesperson for China’s Southern Theater Command Air Force, claimed that the Australian jet had “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace and was “lawfully expelled.”
Li said,
“The Australian aircraft’s actions seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty. We urge Australia to immediately cease its infringing and provocative behavior.”
The latest confrontation comes amid mounting tensions in the South China Sea, where China’s extensive territorial claims overlap with those of its regional neighbors — including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
The timing of the incident is significant, as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travels to the United States to meet President Donald Trump. The two leaders are expected to discuss the AUKUS defense pact, a multi-billion-dollar agreement involving Australia, the U.S., and the U.K. to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.
This isn’t the first such encounter. In February 2025, Australia accused another Chinese aircraft of dropping flares near one of its patrol planes in the same region — an incident China defended as “lawful and restrained.”
Analysts warn that the growing number of such confrontations could heighten the risk of miscalculation and further strain already fragile Australia–China relations.
