China intercepted jet in international airspace, insists Australia PM Albanese

INA-  SOURCES

Australia insisted on Wednesday (June 8) that its patrol plane was in international airspace when a Chinese warplane intercepted it and released a cloud of small aluminium strips, known as chaff.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded curtly when asked about a spat between Canberra and Beijing over the May 26 incident, which Australia's government has described as "very dangerous".

"This incident occurred in international airspace. Fullstop," Mr Albanese told a news conference.

China's defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Tuesday that the Australian P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft came near the airspace of the disputed Paracel Islands - known as Xisha in China.

Mr Tan said the Chinese side "issued a warning to drive it away".

He accused the Australian plane of threatening China's sovereignty and security, and the government of spreading "false information".

Australia says the Chinese plane cut in front of its patrol aircraft and released chaff, some of which was ingested into its engines. Chaff is designed to confuse radar-guided missiles.



SOURCE:THE STRAIT TIMES