BEIJING: Relations between China and Australia have soured once again after Beijing accused Canberra of breaching its airspace and concealing the details of an incident involving military aircraft over the South China Sea.
Chinese Ministry of National Defence on Wednesday alleged that an Australian surveillance aircraft had carried out what it termed an “illegal intrusion” into Chinese airspace, prompting China to lodge a “solemn protest.” Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said Australia was “distorting facts” and attempting to “shift blame” by calling China’s actions unsafe.
“Australia’s military aircraft seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security interests,” Jiang stated, urging Canberra to “rein in its frontline naval and air forces” to prevent further deterioration in bilateral ties.
The accusation came after Australia’s Defence Ministry reported that one of its Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes encountered “unsafe and unprofessional” behavior from a Chinese fighter jet during a routine maritime patrol. The ministry said the Chinese aircraft released flares dangerously close to the Australian plane, which was operating “in full compliance with international law.”
While Australian officials did not reveal the precise location of the incident, Beijing claimed it occurred over the Xisha Islands — known internationally as the Paracel Islands — a group of territories in the South China Sea claimed by multiple countries.
This confrontation mirrors a series of similar run-ins between Chinese and Australian forces earlier this year, underscoring the persistent volatility in the region. China continues to assert sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that found its sweeping claims have no legal foundation.
The disputed waters are a strategic hotspot, with overlapping territorial claims from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, and frequent military patrols by Western powers, including the United States and its allies.
The timing of the latest incident coincided with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington, where he and US President Donald Trump signed an agreement for Australia to supply rare earth and critical minerals to the United States — a move widely seen as an effort to curb reliance on China.
