China has accused Australia of spying after a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near an Australian navy helicopter, forcing it to take evasive action. The incident occurred on Saturday in the Yellow Sea, where HMAS Hobart was enforcing United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
China's Ministry of National Defence spokesman, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, stated that the Australian helicopter conducted 'close-in reconnaissance' three times, disturbing China's normal training activities. He said China responded with a 'vocal warning' before taking 'legitimate, reasonable, professional, and safe operations to expel it'.
Australia had earlier condemned China's actions as unprofessional and unsafe, stating that a Chinese J-10 jet launched flares about 300 metres in front of the Seahawk helicopter and about 60 metres above it. The helicopter was unaffected, and all crew were safe.
Australian naval expert Jennifer Parker disputed China's claims, saying it would be unlikely for an Australian ship to send a helicopter to monitor drills when satellite-based capabilities would be more effective. Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said there was 'no evidence' to support China's claims and called the action 'utterly unacceptable'.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not directly responded to the spying claims but stated that defence was operating in international waters and airspace. This incident follows a similar event in November, when Australian navy divers were injured after a Chinese warship issued sonar pulses.
