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| Chinese J-16 Fighter Intercepting Australian P-8 Fighter |
International Military - A Chinese fighter jet dangerously intercepted an Australian military reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea region in May. This was disclosed by the Australian Department of Defense on Sunday (5/6/2022).
In a statement, the Australian Department of Defense said a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter jet during routine maritime surveillance activities in the region's international airspace on 26 May.
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"The intercept resulted in a dangerous maneuver that posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew," he said as quoted by Al Arabiya. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the Chinese jet flew very close in front of the RAAF aircraft and released "chaff flakes" containing tiny bits of swallowed aluminum into the Australian plane's engines.
"Obviously this is very dangerous," Marles told ABC television. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Perth that his government had expressed concern for China "through appropriate channels".
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The Chinese embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Australia has previously joined the United States in arguing that China's claims around contested islands in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law.