Summary
- China claims it gave advance notice
- China claims Australian helicopter was provocative
- Great power rivalry escalating between China and Australia within the Yellow Sea & South China Sea.
It was reported on May 6 that a Chinese J-10 dropped flares near an Australian military helicopter operating in the Yellow Sea. The Australians denounced the move, calling it “unprofessional and unacceptable.” Now, China has stated that its military took steps to warn and alert Australian helicopters in advance. China denounced the Australian action as provocative while Australia says it was in international waters enforcing North Korean sanctions.
China says it warned in advance
On Tuesday, China stated it took steps to warn the Australian MH60R Seahawk helicopter operating from HMAS Hobart (an air warfare destroyer and one of Australia’s newest warships). This comes as the two countries are trying to patch over rocky relations that hit a low in 2020.
Photo: kev Hughes | Shutterstock
According to Reuters, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian claimed the Australian aircraft was deliberately flying within close range of China’s airspace. The spokesperson said it was a “provocative move” that endangered maritime air security and that the situation was handled according to China’s law and regulations. Lin Jian stated, “The Australian military aircraft flew near China’s airspace in a threatening way.”
“The Chinese military took necessary measures at the scene to warn and alert the Australian side. “We urge the Australian side to immediately stop the provocations and hype to prevent misunderstanding and miscalculation.” – Lin Jian
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The J-10 & MH60R
The Chengdu J-10 “Vigorous Dragon” (NATO reporting name, Firebird) is a Chinese multirole all-weather combat aircraft. It is a delta-wing, fly-by-wire, fourth-generation aircraft in service in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force, and the Pakistani Air Force. It is mostly designed for air-to-air combat but also has strike capabilities.
According to Lockheed Martin, the MH-60R Seahawk is an anti-submarine and anti-surface naval helicopter that is “rugged, powerful, and reliable.” Almost 1,000 of them have been built with Australia having 23 in service and 13 on order.
Great power rivalry
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles asserted the Chinese J-10 dropped flares above and several hundred meters ahead of the Aussie helicopter. He also stated the helicopter was on a routine flight on a mission to enforce sanctions against North Korea. Reuters reported another incident between Australia and China took place in November when Australia asserted a Chinese naval vessel had injured some of its divers in Japanese waters.
Photo: Australian Government Defense
The Yellow and South China Seas are the focal points of great power geopolitics between China and United States-led allies (including Australia). China and other nations in the region have overlapping claims in both seas. China claims much of the South China Sea with the so-called Nine Dash Line. Brinkmanship is common in the region, but there is always the fear of it getting out of hand. Over in the Black Sea and related to the War in Ukraine, a rogue Russian pilot tried to shoot down a British spy plane in 2022 as the game of brinkmanship nearly got out of hand.
