Australia voices concerns over Chinese fighter jet’s unsafe maneuver near navy helicopter

The event unfolded on Saturday during the operations of the Australian air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart in the Yellow Sea, as it enforced United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

According to the Defense Department, a Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jet released flares in the flight path of an Australian navy Seahawk helicopter deployed from the HMAS Hobart. The jet flew approximately 300 meters ahead of the helicopter and 60 meters above it, prompting Defense Minister Richard Marles to describe the incident as “unsafe and unprofessional.”

Despite the encounter, Marles emphasized Australia’s commitment to lawful activities, including the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against North Korea. Fortunately, there were no injuries or damages reported, but the Australian government expressed its concerns to Beijing.

This incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations since Australia accused a Chinese destroyer of injuring Australian navy divers with sonar pulses in Japanese waters last November. China maintains that the encounter occurred outside Japanese territorial waters and disputes any wrongdoing.

Amidst these tensions, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Australia for the first time in a decade later this year. Despite recent improvements in bilateral relations, this latest incident underscores the challenges that persist in the delicate relationship between Australia and China.