Australia Does Not Like China's Risky Fighter Jet Stunt

Australia is confronting China over an aerial encounter in the South China Sea. Flares released by a Chinese fighter jet got dangerously close to an Australian surveillance plane, sparking a diplomatic protest.

A Chinese J-16 fighter released flares within 30 meters of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet in international airspace. The incident occurred on Tuesday, triggering protests in Canberra and Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday. No damage or injuries were reported, but the flares posed a potential threat to the aircraft and its usual crew of eight or nine.

Richard Marles, the Australian defense minister, highlighted the proximity of the flares: "The J-16 was so close that there's no way you could have been able to ensure that the flares did not hit the P-8." He added: "Had any of those flares hit the P-8, that would have definitely had the potential for significant damage to that aircraft." The Chinese embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This incident marks the first significant clash between Chinese and Australian forces disclosed by Australia in nine months, when Australia said that a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares in the path of an Australian navy helicopter. It underscores ongoing military tensions, despite improved diplomatic and trade relations. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)