Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday his government has expressed concerns to China over an incident where a Chinese fighter jet released flares in front of an Australian helicopter above international waters in the Yellow Sea, rapping the act as unsafe and "completely unacceptable."
A J-10 jet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force on Saturday intercepted an Australian navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter on a routine flight during an international operation to enforce U.N. sanctions on North Korea, according to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.
Albanese said in the television interview with Nine Network's Today Show that Australia has "made it very clear to China that this is unprofessional and that it's unacceptable" while seeking an explanation for such behavior.
"They're in international waters, international airspace, and they're doing work to ensure that the sanctions that the world has imposed through the United Nations on North Korea...are enforced," the prime minister said, referring to the Austrian Defense Force personnel.
"And they shouldn't have been at any risk," he added.
The Chinese jet released flares about 300 meters in front of the Australian chopper and 60 meters above it, forcing it to take evasive action, Marles said in a statement.
No injuries or damage to the aircraft occurred, according to a separate statement by the Australian Defense Department.
China defended the fighter jet's action, saying the Australian chopper "deliberately flew within close range" of Chinese airspace "in a provocative move," endangering Beijing's security while ostensibly enforcing U.N. resolutions.
The Chinese military "took necessary measures at the scene to warn and alert" the Australian side, and it handled the situation in accordance with law and in a safe manner, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding Beijing has lodged "a serious protest" with Canberra over the helicopter's risky moves.
China's Defense Ministry also claimed the Australian helicopter disturbed the Chinese military's normal training activities and demanded Canberra to "stop spreading false narratives" and halt "all dangerous and provocative acts."
It is the second such incident involving Australian and Chinese forces in six months, threatening to hamper improving ties between the two nations after years of heightened tensions under the government of Albanese's predecessor, Scott Morrison.
In November, Australia said its naval divers sustained minor injuries after being exposed to sonar pulses from a Chinese warship while conducting diving operations in international waters inside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
At the time, China argued that its military is strictly disciplined and always operates professionally in accordance with international law, rejecting the Australian claim.
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