Australia accuses China of ‘unsafe’ fighter jet move

Australia’s defence ministry said no one was injured and there was no damage to Australia’s P-8A surveillance jet after Tuesday’s incident.

Authorities in Canberra have said a Chinese fighter jet released flares in front of an Australian military aircraft while flying over the South China Sea early this week.

Australia’s defence ministry said it “expressed concerns” to its Chinese counterparts over the unsafe and unprofessional interaction.

The ministry said no one was injured and there was no damage to Australia’s P-8A surveillance jet after Tuesday’s incident.

But China said the Australian aircraft “intentionally intruded” into its airspace and that the Chinese fighter jet responded in a “legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrained” manner.