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| China-Australia conflict |
International Military - It was reported that on May 26, an Australian P-8A Poseidon patrol plane had a "clash" with Chinese warplanes. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was "concerned" over what happened over the May 26 incident. Ministry of Defense Richard Marles reported that the P-8A Poseidon aircraft were conducting routine patrols in international airspace.
Then, a Chinese J-16 fighter plane was seen flying very close to the Australian Poseidon and releasing a flare that damaged the aircraft's engine. "The J-16 maneuvered near the P-8A Poseidon aircraft then released a flare which contained small bits of aluminum and some of the pieces were swallowed into the Poseidon engine, and obviously that was very dangerous," Richard Marles told Al Jazeera.
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Fortunately, the P-8A crew responded professionally and swiftly returned to base. Additional information, China has not issued an official statement on the incident, until now,
China's defense
China has warned Australia to stop dangerous provocations near the border, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesman Tan Kefei said Tuesday, June 7. It is known that an Australian patrol plane was intercepted while gathering intelligence over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
The Australian side said that a P-8A Poseidon patrol plane was intercepted by Chinese warplanes during routine maritime surveillance activities in international airspace over the South China Sea on May 26, citing the EurAsian Times. "A very dangerous maneuver, which could pose a security threat to our aircraft and crew," said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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And China's defense was echoed by their spokesman who said it "poses a serious threat to China's sovereignty and security". And stressed that China's military actions were carried out in a very professional, safe, rational and lawful manner.
"On May 26, an Australian patrol plane entered Chinese airspace near the Xisha Islands they ignored several warnings from us and continued to approach the Xisha Islands airspace," said Tan Kefei.
China urges Australia to immediately stop this kind of dangerous provocation and strictly limit its naval and air actions.
Australia and China relations are getting worse
Relations between Australia and China, which are major trading partners, have deteriorated in recent years. And this is not without reason, after China imposed trade barriers and rejected high-level exchanges.
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China's response to Australia's imposition of rules targeting foreign interference in its domestic politics. Australia and other countries have also sought to block China's entry into the South Pacific. Including the signing of a security agreement by China with the Solomon Islands.
Considering that China is intensively building military bases in this region, including the South China Sea. The Solomon Islands itself is located less than 2,000 kilometers or 1,200 miles from the coast of Australia. China claims the South China Sea in its entirety, and they are increasing pressure on countries in the region.
And once again, one of China's forms of intimidation is building military facilities on artificial islands and "harassing" foreign fishing vessels and military activities there. “Earlier this year. China has militarized at least three of its island holdings—they are equipped with weapons such as anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, laser and jamming equipment,” reported US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral John C. Aquilino, of AP News.
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The US and allies strongly oppose China's claims by holding patrols and military exercises in the region.
China-Australia tensions are rising there
The Xisha Islands themselves are known as the Paracel Islands and the Hoang Sa Islands are part of the disputed territory of China and several other countries in the region. China and Vietnam claim legal sovereignty over the Xisha islands, but Beijing de facto controls them.
On the other hand, the United States is concerned about China's intentions and is seeking transparency over a naval facility project in Cambodia, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday, June 6. Because it was reported the previous day, June 5, that China was secretly building a naval facility near the Ream Naval Base, Cambodia. In the Gulf of Thailand to be used exclusively for military operations, citing the Washington Post.
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"We have seen that China is involved in ongoing construction projects at Ream Naval Base, their presence there will threaten Cambodia's autonomy and will also undermine regional security," Ned Price said in the Washington Post. Price added that other countries in the region have also expressed concern about China's lack of transparency in building naval facilities in Cambodia.
Including questioning the role the Chinese military will take in its construction and post-construction use of the facility, and China denied this news, an official they confirmed to the Washington Post that they would only use part of the facility. The official also denied that the facility was not intended for military needs, but scientists who would use it.