The Australian Government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese Government following an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLA-AF) fighter aircraft.
On 4 May 2024, HMAS Hobart was in international waters in the Yellow Sea undertaking routine activities as part of Operation Argos, Australia’s contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
During these activities, a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter launched from HMAS Hobart was intercepted by a PLA-AF fighter aircraft.
The PLA-AF aircraft released flares along the flight path of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter. This was an unsafe manoeuvre which posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel.
While there were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel or damaged caused to the MH-60R helicopter, the safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority.
Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner.
Defence has, for decades, 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.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday the helicopter “deliberately flew within close range of China’s airspace in a provocative move that endangers China’s maritime air security”.
But the next day, China’s story changed, with its Defence Ministry claiming the Australian helicopter was attempting to conduct “close-in reconnaissance and disturb the normal training activities of the Chinese side”.
Defence Force chief Angus Campbell said the incident was “unsafe and unprofessional” and brushed off Beijing’s surveillance claims.
“The helicopter was behaving in a correct and disciplined fashion and I don’t accept that the [Chinese jet’s] response was anything but unsafe and unprofessional,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Australian Defence Force personnel were engaged in international waters, in international skies, and engaged in international work, consistent with the United Nations sanctions being imposed on North Korea,” he said.
“It was legitimate, peaceful activity which should be respected and which I’m proud of the role that Australian Defence Force personnel play in upholding international law and international sanctions and the appropriate processes as determined by the United Nations.
“This action by China was unprofessional and unacceptable. We’ve made that very, very clear going forward.”
