Australia's defence chief has refuted Beijing's assertion that a Navy helicopter, targeted by a Chinese military jet with flares, was engaged in spying. The incident, occurring in the Yellow Sea off South Korea on Saturday, has escalated tensions between Australia and its largest trading partner.
By J Prakash
Angus Campbell, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, stated that the Seahawk helicopter, launched from HMAS Hobart, was conducting its operations appropriately. "The helicopter was conducting itself in a proper and disciplined manner, and I reject the notion that the response was anything other than unsafe and unprofessional," he asserted on Thursday.
HMAS Hobart was present in the area as part of a United Nations mission to enforce trade sanctions against North Korea. Initially, China claimed that the helicopter had "intentionally approached China's airspace to cause trouble and provoke, endangering China's maritime and air security." "As a precautionary measure, the Chinese military took necessary actions on the scene. The relevant operations were legal, compliant, professional, and safe," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a regular briefing on Tuesday. However, later the same day, China's
Defence Ministry altered its stance, accusing Australia of utilizing the helicopter to "conduct close-in reconnaissance and disrupt the normal training activities of the Chinese side." "We urge the Australian side to genuinely respect China's sovereignty and security concerns, refrain from disseminating false narratives, strictly regulate the operations of its naval and air forces, cease all dangerous provocations, and avoid undermining the overall relationship between the two countries and their militaries," remarked ministry spokesperson Senior
Colonel Zhang Xiaogang. Defence Minister Richard Marles said earlier in the week that the People's Liberation Army J10 warplane dropped flares approximately 300 meters in front of the Seahawk helicopter and approximately 60 meters above it, compelling the helicopter pilot to take evasive action to avoid collision.
"This was an unsafe maneuver that posed a risk to both the aircraft and personnel," he emphasized. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the action as "completely unacceptable." The Seahawk typically operates with a crew of four to six individuals. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the interception.
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