Australia accuses Chinese aircraft of dangerous interception


Australia on Sunday accused the Chinese air force of having endangered one of its military surveillance devices on May 26 over the South China Sea. According to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, a Chinese fighter recklessly intercepted an Australian P-8 surveillance plane, closing in very close and firing flares before swooping past it.

At that time, (the Chinese plane) dropped a chaff packet containing small pieces of aluminum, some of which were ingested by the engine of the P-8 plane“, Richard Marles told the media. “Obviously this is very dangerous“, he added. No one was injured and the aircraft was able to return to base. But Canberra has expressed concern to Beijing, he said.

It is not unusual for the Australian military to carry out surveillance missions in the South China Sea, which Beijing considers almost entirely its own. Australia, the United States and their allies consider most of this sea, through which much of the trade between Asia and the rest of the world passes, to be part of international waters and that navigation is therefore there. free.

Australia has actedin accordance with international law, and has exercised its right of free navigation and overflight in international waters and airspacesaid Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Three months ago, Canberra had already accused the Chinese army of pointing a military laser at one of its planes in northern Australia. The Australian government had mentionedan act of intimidation” dangerous. And on Wednesday, the Canadian army had also accused the Chinese aviation of having endangered several of its planes in international airspace in Asia.


SEE ALSO – United States/China: have we entered a new cold war?



Source link -94