Recently, a video has sparked outrage among Australia’s opposition party. The video shows Chinese military aircraft dangerously intercepting Australian surveillance planes. Members of the opposition party have criticized this as “reckless” and “deeply disturbing” propaganda, calling on the Australian Prime Minister to engage in discussions with the Chinese President regarding this incident.
The video was posted on the Chinese website BiliBili, with a watermark from the Chinese state media “CCTV Military.” The video shows a Chinese J-16 fighter jet intercepting an Australian P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in the international airspace over the South China Sea in 2022.
According to a report by The Guardian Australia on Wednesday (September 18), on May 26, 2022, a spokesperson from the Australian Department of Defense stated that an Australian Royal Air Force P-8 reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter jet in the South China Sea region during a routine maritime surveillance mission.
The Department of Defense at that time stated that the interception “resulted in a dangerous action, posing a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew.” In response, the Australian government raised concerns with the Chinese government.
In the video, a Chinese Air Force pilot named Zhang Zhanfang referred to the Australian aircraft as “a formidable enemy” and stated, “brave warriors win in confrontation between two armies.”
The video claimed that the Australian aircraft was flying at a low altitude, “not strictly following the rules, approaching our baseline at a speed close to 90 degrees vertical flight.”
Australian Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham stated on Wednesday that the video “glorifies unacceptable military behavior, which is unacceptable.”
He told ABC Radio, “China’s military conduct towards Australia and many other regional partners, especially recent military actions towards the Philippines, poses too many inappropriate risks and aggressions that we do not want to see potential misunderstandings or escalations.”
“This video glorifies and encourages such behavior rather than seeking to ensure military activities are conducted responsibly,” he said. “What is alarming is that this video portrays Australia as an enemy and adversary, which is certainly not the relationship we hope to build with China.”
He believed that the government should raise “strong representations” with China at the ministerial level.
Shadow Defense Minister Andrew Hastie referred to the video as “propaganda” and described it as “deeply disturbing.” He said, “This is a warning from the People’s Liberation Army to continue attacking the Australian Defense Force.”
He stated, “The alliance urges the Prime Minister to step up to defend Australia’s best interests and our Australian Defense Force, and to raise this issue in the next meeting with President Xi.”
Facing aggression, “we must show strength.”
On Wednesday, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters is “at the core of Australia’s national interest.”
He said, “We frequently interact with the People’s Liberation Army Navy. We have indeed had discussions with China. If there are unsafe and unprofessional incidents, we will condemn them.”