China accused Australia of spying and claimed this was what led to an incident in which flares were thrown in front of a Navy helicopter, forcing it to take evasive action.
The federal government has said the action of the Chinese J-10 aircraft, which dropped the flares directly in front of the Seahawk helicopter, was unprofessional and unsafe.
But Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesman Col. Zhang Xiaogang said HMAS Hobart sent the helicopter three times to conduct “close reconnaissance and disrupt normal training activities on the Chinese side.”
China responded with a “vocal warning” before undertaking “legitimate, reasonable, professional and safe operations to expel him,” he added, making a statement late Tuesday Beijing time.
Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesman Colonel Zhang Xiaogang (pictured) said the Australian naval helicopter was there to spy on China and disrupt its “normal training activities”.
HMAS Hobart (pictured at its home port in Sydney) was in the Yellow Sea enforcing United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
‘We urge the Australian side to truly respect China’s sovereignty and security concerns, stop spreading false narratives, strictly restrict the operations of its naval and air forces, stop all dangerous provocations, and avoid undermining the overall relationship between the two. countries and the two armies. ,’ he said.
But Australian naval expert Jennifer Parker disputed the claim, saying the defense was unlikely to send a helicopter to monitor the drills when satellite-based capabilities would be more effective.
“It would be highly unlikely for a helicopter on an Australian ship to provoke China in this way during a naval exercise for limited or no benefit,” he told the ABC.
The flares were launched about 300 meters in front of the helicopter and about 60 meters above.
The helicopter was not affected and the entire crew was safe after it took evasive action.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian initially condemned Australia’s actions as a “provocative measure” before the defense spokesperson made his statement.
After the incident took place, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called Australia’s actions a “provocative measure.”
“There is no evidence” to support China’s claims, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said.
“Even if we were – hypothetically – in China’s exclusive economic zone, this would still be absolutely unacceptable, intimidating and coercive and we would never accept it,” he told Sky News on Thursday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not responded directly to the spying allegations but has said there is “no doubt” the defense was operating in international waters and airspace.
Australia has also said the Navy plane was on a routine flight and operating from the HMAS Hobart in the Yellow Sea, as part of an international effort to enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea, when the incident It took place around 7:30 pm on Saturday.
HMAS Hobart is a guided missile destroyer and carries a helicopter for surveillance and support in key warfighting areas, according to the Navy website.
In November, Australian navy divers from HMAS Toowoomba were injured after a Chinese warship emitted sonar pulses.