Australia has protested to Beijing through multiple channels that a Chinese fighter jet endangered an Australian navy helicopter with flares over international waters, the prime minister said Tuesday.
The incident occurred Saturday as the Australian air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart was enforcing U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea in international waters in the Yellow Sea, officials said Monday. There were no injuries or damage reported.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said Monday that a Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jet released flares in the flight path of an Australian navy Seahawk helicopter deployed from the Hobart.
He said the flares were 300 meters (986 feet) in front of the helicopter and 60 meters (197 feet) above it and the helicopter pilot had to “take evasive action in order to not be hit by those flares.”
“The consequence of being hit by the flares would have been significant,” Marles said.
@ISIDEWITH2 setmanes2W
How important do you believe it is for countries to adhere to international laws and norms, especially in tense situations?
@ISIDEWITH2 setmanes2W
Would your opinion on this incident change if it happened closer to your own country's territory, and why or why not?
