People's Liberation Army Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang , seen here in an image provided by the Australian Department of Defence on 13 February. (Australian Department of Defence)
Canberra has expressed its concerns with the Chinese government after a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-16 fighter carried out an “unsafe and unprofessional interaction” with a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
According to a statement released by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) on 13 February, the encounter took place over the South China Sea while the P-8A was carrying out routine maritime surveillance operations on 11 February.
During the encounter, the J-16 released flares in close proximity to the P-8A aircraft, said the DoD. “This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” read the DoD statement.
“For decades, the [Australian Defence Force (ADF)] has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace,” it added.
There were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel in the encounter and the P-8A was not damaged, the department disclosed.
In a separate announcement on the same day, the DoD noted that it is aware of the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task group operating to the northeast of Australia.
This group consists of the Type 055 (Renhai)-class destroyer Zunyi , Type 054A (Jiangkai II)-class frigate Hengyang , and Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishan Hu .
The vessels were said to have travelled through Southeast Asia, before entering Australia's maritime approaches. One of the vessels, the Hengyang
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