By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Australian Warship and Helicopter Shadowed by Chinese Forces in High Profile Incident
Newly released documents reveal a tense encounter on May 4, where an Australian helicopter flying southeast of China’s Shandong Peninsula faced flares released by a Chinese fighter aircraft, despite being outside China’s territorial waters.
Guardian Australia reports that the Australian warship HMAS Hobart was simultaneously shadowed by a People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy destroyer and another Chinese helicopter during the incident. This episode highlights ongoing tensions between the two nations, complicating diplomatic efforts.
The Australian government has withheld the exact location of what it deems an “unsafe and unprofessional” action. However, documents obtained under freedom of information (FoI) laws provide more details than previously known. These documents include briefings to Defence Minister Richard Marles about the incident in the Yellow Sea, situated between the Chinese mainland and the Korean Peninsula.
An email dated May 5 indicated that HMAS Hobart was conducting Operation Argos, aimed at monitoring and deterring illegal ship to ship transfers violating UN sanctions on North Korea. During this operation, HMAS Hobart’s MH 60R helicopter was airborne and the ship was shadowed by a PLA Navy destroyer (DDG 113) and its helicopter.
The email details that flares were released within approximately 300 meters of the Australian helicopter, prompting it to take evasive action. The encounter was classified as "unsafe," and a formal protest was lodged with the PLA’s defence attaché in Canberra. The Australian embassy in Beijing was also instructed to address the incident promptly.
Following a report by Nine News on May 6, Defence Minister Marles and his department issued public statements. FoI documents marked "background not for public release" revealed that during its second mission, the Australian helicopter was shadowed by a PLA air force jet and had to perform urgent evasive maneuvers to avoid flares.
The documents, with specific locations redacted, suggest the incident occurred beyond China’s territorial and contiguous zones, likely within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The US and Australia maintain that such activities are permissible under international law within EEZs.
Professor Don Rothwell from the Australian National University noted that China disputes the right of foreign navies to conduct military operations in its EEZ. He criticized Australia’s reluctance to disclose the exact location of the incident, emphasizing that the term "international waters" is not recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China’s foreign ministry accused Australia of provocative behavior, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed that ADF personnel were operating in international waters and airspace. China’s ministry of national defence claimed Australia was conducting close reconnaissance to disrupt Chinese naval exercises, defending the PLA’s actions as legitimate and professional.
In June, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Australia, where both nations’ leaders discussed enhancing military communication to prevent future incidents. The Australian Defence Force continues to assert that its operations are conducted in accordance with international law, ensuring safe and professional interactions in the region.
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