Shocking new details about Aussie aircraft's encounter with China
A Chinese fighter plane that intercepted an Australian maritime surveillance aircraft in international airspace last month released flares and cut across its nose at very close range, government officials have revealed.
The RAAF P-8 aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter plane in the South China Sea on May 26, the Department of Defence confirmed on Sunday.
"The intercept resulted in a dangerous manoeuvre which posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew," it said.
New Defence Minister Richard Marles has since revealed just how risky the encounter was.
Mr Marles said the Chinese aircraft flew very close to the side of the Australian plane, where it released flares.
"The J-16 then accelerated and cut across the nose of the P-8, settling in front of the P-8 at very close distance," he said during a press conference in Melbourne on Sunday.
"At that moment, it then released a bundle of chaff, which contains small pieces of aluminium, some of which were ingested into the engine of the P-8aircraft. Quite obviously, this is very dangerous."
The department said Defence has for decades undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.
The Australian Government has raised its concerns about the incident with the Chinese Government through the appropriate channels, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in Perth after news of the incident broke.
"I won't be making further comment on it, other than to say that in the Australian government's view, in the Defence Department's view, this was not safe, what occurred," he said before embarking on an official trip to Indonesia.
'Better relations across the Indo-Pacific region'
Mr Albanese remains confident of maintaining positive relationships with Indonesia, ahead of his three-day trip to the country.
The prime minister will fly out for Jakarta on Sunday, where he will hold key talks with President Joko Widodo.
Mr Albanese said while he had already spoken with President Widodo since becoming prime minister, he was looking forward to continuing bilateral talks with Indonesia.
"My government is determined to have better relations across the Indo-Pacific region," he said.
"My discussions with President Widodo have been very cordial and positive ... we've met, of course, in the past, I look forward to the next couple of days."
Following the talks in Jakarta, Mr Albanese will also visit the city of Makassar in the country's east.
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