On May 9th, Australian Prime Minister Albanese dismissed the Chinese Communist Party’s accusation that Australian helicopters were monitoring its naval training. The Australian political circle condemned the dangerous and unprofessional practice of Chinese J-10 fighter jets firing illumination rounds in front of Australian Navy helicopters. In response, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense claimed that during May 3rd to 4th, while a Chinese naval fleet was conducting training exercises in the Yellow Sea, the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart’s helicopter engaged in “close reconnaissance harassment” against the Chinese navy.
Albanese denied China’s claims, asserting that the Australian Navy has the right to navigate freely in international waters. He emphasized that such activities are lawful, peaceful, and should be respected. Albanese expressed pride in the role played by the Australian Defense Forces in upholding international law.
The illumination rounds fired by Chinese aircraft landed approximately 300 meters in front of the Australian Navy helicopter, with an altitude 60 meters higher than the helicopter. Subsequently, the Australian helicopter took evasive action, and its crew was not affected. Albanese once again condemned the Chinese navy’s actions as “unprofessional” and “unacceptable”.
Australian naval expert Jennifer Parker also questioned the Chinese narrative of “close reconnaissance harassment”. She stated that Australia is unlikely to dispatch helicopters for surveillance during exercises, as satellite surveillance is more effective. “The possibility of Australian warships provocatively sending helicopters to spy on China during naval exercises is extremely low and offers no advantages,” Parker told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Australian government reported that the illumination incident occurred on the evening of May 4th when a Navy helicopter launched from the HMAS Hobart was conducting routine tasks in the Yellow Sea as part of international missions enforcing United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
Recently, satellite images obtained by Reuters revealed that China provided a berth for a Russian cargo ship sanctioned by the United States, suspected of transferring North Korean weapons. In January of this year, Ukrainian weapons experts discovered North Korean missile fragments within a Ukrainian building destroyed by Russian forces. The Ukrainian military subsequently stated that dozens of North Korean missiles were used by Russian forces to attack Ukrainian territory, resulting in at least 24 deaths and over 70 injuries.
The international community is investigating how North Korean weapons are infiltrating the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield. For more updates on breaking news and lifestyle information in Australia, visit dajiyuan.com.au.