May 7, 2024
An Australian navy helicopter pilot was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting several flares fired by a Chinese fighter jet over international waters near North Korea.
Defence Minister Richard Marles last night condemned the "very serious" incident as "unsafe" and "unprofessional," while Australia has registered its concern with Beijing.
Australian air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart was in the Yellow Sea taking part in Operation Argos - an international effort to prevent North Korea smuggling sanctioned goods by sea - when the incident occurred about 7.30pm Australian time on Saturday. Mr Marles said a MH-60R Seahawk helicopter operating from the destroyer was taking a routine flight when it was "intercepted" by a J-10 Chinese Air Force plane.
"The PLA-Air Force plane dropped flares about 300m in front of the Seahawk helicopter and about 60m above it, requiring the helicopter to take evasive action in order to not be hit by those flares," he said.
"The consequence of being hit by the flares would have been significant. Importantly, the helicopter was unaffected and all the crew are safe." Mr Marles said the interactions between the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Australian Defence Force were "unacceptable".
"This is a very serious incident," he said. "We expect that when we have interactions with other militaries, including with the Chinese military, that those interactions are professional and safe." Mr Marles said Australia had formally expressed its concerns about the incident to the Chinese Government.
"It is our expectation in the interaction of our two militaries that they happen in a manner which is professional and safe for all concerned," he said.
Mr Marles said Australia had been part of the operation enforcing sanctions on North Korea for six years.
"The Australian Defence Force is engaged in important work enforcing UN Security Council sanctions and in doing that work we were operating on the high seas in accordance with international law and in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said.
Coalition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie condemned the "provocative and dangerous" actions of China's military, saying it built on a "pattern of aggressive behaviour" toward the ADF.
"We are relieved that no ADF personnel were injured by this reckless, dangerous and foolish move. It does not build trust between our nations," he said. "The Coalition calls on Richard Marles to stand up for our ADF personnel and raise this incident directly with his Chinese counterpart." Coalition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson described China's actions as an "extremely dangerous coercive step" that had endangered the lives of Australian military personnel.
"This should not be allowed to happen and the Australian Government must be incredibly robust in our response," Mr Paterson said.
In a statement, a spokesman for the ADF said the release of flares into the flight path of the Seahawk helicopter was "unsafe" and posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel.
"While there were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel or damaged caused to the MH-60R helicopter, the safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority," the statement said.
"Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner."
