• Australia's Defence Minister condemns a Chinese fighter jet for releasing flares near an Australian surveillance plane.
• China accuses an Australian military aircraft of intruding into its airspace, escalating diplomatic tensions.
• The incident highlights ongoing military confrontations in the contested South China Sea.

Australia has raised significant concerns regarding an encounter with a Chinese fighter jet during a routine surveillance operation over the South China Sea. According to Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet released flares that came alarmingly close—within 30 metres (about 100 feet)—to an Australian P-8A Poseidon military aircraft.

The incident, which occurred on February 11, prompted Australia to formally express its concerns to China, labelling the jet's actions as “unsafe and unprofessional.” No injuries were reported, and the aircraft suffered no damage. “Had any of those flares hit the P-8, that would have definitely had the potential for significant damage to that aircraft,” Marles remarked during a television interview on Thursday, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

In response, Chinese officials accused the Australian plane of "deliberately intruding" into China's claimed airspace above the Paracel Islands—an area steeped in territorial disputes. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, stated that the Australian aircraft violated Chinese sovereignty, further inflaming existing friction between the two nations.

This incident is part of a growing pattern of tension between China and Australia during surveillance operations in the South China Sea, a region where China's expansive territorial claims have led to frequent confrontations with military forces from Australia and the United States. Recent reports indicate that Australia is also monitoring a Chinese naval task force comprising several warships operating in waters northeast of its coast, as noted by Newsweek.

Past episodes have included accusations against a Chinese fighter jet for improper maneuvers near Australian naval assets, with military officials on both sides pressing for operational professionalism amid increasingly contested air and maritime spaces. Australia is committed to respecting international laws on navigation and overflight, and its Defence Ministry reiterated that the Defense Force has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the area for decades.

The diplomatic exchanges reflect a tense atmosphere as both countries navigate their military engagements in the region, with calls from Beijing demanding an end to Australian surveillance activities while Canberra seeks assurance of safety from Chinese military actions.

For further detailed insights on the incident, you can visit The Jakarta Post and SCMP.