(Adnkronos) – Australia has rebuked Beijing for “unsafe” military conduct, accusing a Chinese fighter jet of firing flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea. The Australian aircraft was conducting a “routine” surveillance patrol over the disputed waters on Feb. 11 when a Chinese fighter approached, the Department of Defense said, adding that the Shenyang J-16 jet fighter “launched flares near” the Australian Poseidon surveillance aircraft.
“The Australian government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese government following a dangerous and unprofessional interaction with an aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force: ‘It was a dangerous and unprofessional maneuver that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,’ it added.
