Chinese fighter jet ‘dangerously intercepted’ Australian plane in South China Sea?

Reuters quoted a statement from the Australian Department of Defense as saying that the P-8 was intercepted by the J-16 during a “routine maritime surveillance operation” in international airspace over the South China Sea on May 26. “Intercept action resulted in dangerous maneuvering, posing a safety threat to the P-8 and its crew,” the Australian Department of Defense said in a statement.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that the Chinese fighter jet flew very close in front of the P-8 and ejected “a metallic shrapnel” containing small pieces of aluminum that were sucked into the Australian aircraft’s engine. . “Obviously, it’s very dangerous,” Marles told ABC News.

A Chinese J-16 fighter jet Screenshot ChinaMil.com

Australia’s Department of Defense said the Australian government had raised concerns about the incident with the Chinese government. The Chinese embassy in Australia has not yet responded, according to Reuters.

Earlier on May 13, ABC News quoted then-Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton as saying that a spy ship (AGI) of China was closely monitored by the Australian military as it passed the Harold E Holt naval station in the town of Exmouth, on the Western Australian coast.

Mr Dutton said Australia had been tracking the Chinese vessel “for about a week” but did not give an exact time. “Of course, its purpose is to gather intelligence along the coastline. It has moved near the facilities military and intelligence on Australia’s west coast,” Mr Dutton said.

Australia and the US have claimed China’s claims around disputed islands in the South China Sea East Sea inconsistent with international law.

For decades, Australia has conducted surveillance in the South China Sea “in accordance with international law, exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace,” the Australian Department of Defense said. , according to Reuters.