Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Beijing of unacceptable conduct after reports that a Chinese fighter jet fired flares in the flight path of an Australian navy helicopter over international waters.
The MH60R Seahawk helicopter was flying above the Yellow Sea on Saturday as part of the United Nations’s efforts to enforce sanctions on North Korea when a Chinese Air Force J-10 jet dropped flares above and several hundred metres ahead of it, Australia’s Department of Defence said late on Monday evening.
Albanese said Australia has raised its concerns through diplomatic and military channels, although Beijing had yet to respond.
Beijing’s foreign ministry denied deploying the sonar, and said no harm had been caused.
Albanese made a breakthrough trip to China last year, hailing improved economic ties after years of bickering and reprisals.
But tensions remain when it comes to security, as Australia moves closer to the United States in an effort to counter China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to visit Australia next month, Albanese noted.
