Interception of a Five Eyes recon plane by a Chinese J-16 fighter in the South China Sea, according to Beijing, was a provocation by US allies. Chinese state media said it was a classic case of the west crying wolf when it's their mistake.
China Intercepts Australian Recon Plane
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) maritime reconnaissance flight got intercepted over international airspace in the South China Sea, prompting to lodge a complaint with Beijing, the EurAsian Times reported.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, calling it very dangerous, this incident happened on May 26, noted ABC News.
The Australian Defense Department (ADF) statement said the RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by the J-16 while doing a recon flight over international airspace over the SCS.
Defense Minister Richard Marles told the press that the PLA jet went close to the side of the P-8, then fired flares, per First Post.
Chaff fired off not to confuse missiles can sabotage a plane in flight. Canberra accused China of firing military lasers at another P-8 in February earlier this year, but Beijing.
The allegations come after Canada accused Chinese fighter planes of performing dangerous interceptions over the East China Sea, accusing they could have resulted in a collision with the P-8.
Canadian planes are deployed in Japan to push UN sanctions against North Korea. Ottawa reported that the PLAAF conducts unsafe flying near its CP-140 maritime patrol aircraft.
One incident involved a Chinese J-16 fighter pilot flashing a middle finger at a Canadian plane. Global News stressed that 60 interceptions by PLAAF were very risky in areas including the South China Sea.
Members of Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, and New Zealand share intel. Two members accused China of dangerous maneuvers but said they were lying.
China Denies Provocation
Chinese analysts asserted that the PLA fighter jets needed to deal with close-in reconnaissance and confrontational operations by monitoring planes from Canada and Australia in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
According to experts, the two members of the Five Eyes made the first grievance accusing Chinese jets of jeopardizing flight safety. But they're the ones who are to bear responsibility in the first place. State-owned media Global Report states that they are trying to defame China without considering one's own actions.
China countered the Canadian claims they weren't doing anything illegal, but their goal was to get intelligence in the East China Sea, even provoking the J-16s. Also, the Chinese pilots were forced to do their jobs.
Also, the PLAAF and experts asked Ottawa what business they are getting close to in China, despite the parameters of the UN mission, this is not part of it.
Australian Defense Defense Minister Marles will not admit their P-8 was collecting information and want to hide it. The ADF's action endangers its equipment and people.
Former Australian Air Force officer Peter Layton told CNN firing chaff could stall a jet engine backing up the ADFs story. The PLA retorted to the ADF's allegation that their plane was protecting Chinese airspace and the P-8 wanted to get intel from the PLA naval drills.
A Five Eyes recon plane that a Chinese J-16 fighter forced to leave the South China Sea because it might gather intelligence, and using dangerous flying the PLAAF to escape blame from the incident in the first place.
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