Australia accuses China of endangering one of its military planes

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the Australian military aviation, February 8, 2021 (Illustration image).

© Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 3.0 Bidgee

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Australia accuses this Sunday the Chinese aviation of having endangered one of its military surveillance devices, an incident and a provocation moreover, which occurred above the South China Sea claimed by Beijing.

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In its quest to expand its control over the South China Sea, Beijing is flexing its muscles.

Pilots often take risks, even coming close to serious accidents.

This time, the Australian Defense Minister, Richard Marles, denounces a “

 ” incident: on May 26, a Chinese F-16 fighter intercepts an Australian P-8 surveillance plane.

It comes very close, launches flares and drops a packet of anti-radar chaff containing small pieces of aluminum, ingested by the engine of the Australian aircraft.

The aircraft was able to return to its base, but Canberra expressed concern.

Beijing considers the South China Sea its territory, despite the verdict of the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration which in 2016 rejected such claims.

Since then, the United States and Australia have increased surveillance missions – to ensure, they say, freedom of navigation in these waters through which a large part of the trade between Asia and the rest of the world passes.

A new incident

This new incident comes shortly after Labor came to power in Australia – and when relations between the two countries are already very strained.

Three months ago, Canberra had already accused the Chinese army of pointing a military laser at one of its planes in northern Australia.

The Australian government had spoken of a

 dangerous "

►Also read: Flight of Russian and Chinese bombers near Japan on the sidelines of the “Quad” summit

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• Aeronautics