Australia stated on Monday (May 6th) that during a United Nations mission in international waters, an Australian helicopter was near a Chinese fighter jet that dropped a flare. Thanks to the timely maneuvering by the Australian pilots, a potentially disastrous incident from the Chinese side was avoided.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles called the incident “unacceptable” in a statement.
According to Reuters, on Saturday (May 4th), an MH60R Seahawk helicopter from the Australian naval destroyer HMAS Hobart was intercepted by a Chinese J-10 fighter jet during a routine flight. The J-10 fighter jet dropped a flare in the airspace several hundred meters ahead of the helicopter.
Marles mentioned that the helicopter pilots had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by the flare.
“The consequences of being hit by the flare would have been severe,” Marles stated. “The important thing is that the helicopter was not affected, and all crew members are safe.”
The Australian Defence Department stated that the Chinese aircraft “launched flares along the flight path of Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopters. This was an unsafe operation posing risks to aircraft and personnel.”
“This is a very serious incident. It is unsafe and completely unacceptable,” said Marles, adding that the Australian government has lodged a protest with the Chinese government over this “unprofessional” incident.
A Defence Department official told The Guardian that the HMAS Hobart was in international waters of the Yellow Sea at the time, participating in the United Nations Operation Argos for sanctions against North Korea.
This is the second such incident in six months, further disrupting the signs of easing tensions between the two countries after years of strained relations and trade disputes.
Last November, Australia reported that a Chinese naval vessel in Japanese waters injured some of the crew members of the Australian navy ship HMAS Toowoomba using underwater sonar, causing minor injuries to two sailors. China denied using sonar, but Australia rejected China’s statement.
Marles mentioned that despite the conflict on Saturday, the HMAS Hobart continues its mission in the area. Since 2018, Australia has been involved in enforcing sanctions against North Korea in the region.
The Defence Department stated in the announcement, “For decades, the Defence Department has been conducting maritime surveillance activities in the region, exercising freedom of navigation and overflight rights in international waters and airspace in accordance with international law.”