China slams Australian military for ‘disrupting’ drill after Yellow Sea helicopter confrontation

Foreign ministry says PLA aircraft warned off Australian helicopter that was ‘disrupting’ a Chinese exercise

Washington and Canberra have blasted ‘dangerous’ release of flares from Chinese fighter jet in international waters

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In this undated photo from the Australian Defence Force, a Seahawk helicopter prepares to land on the deck of HMAS Hobart during flying operations while on a regional presence deployment off northern Australia. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AP

Published: 8:33pm, 7 May 2024Updated: 9:29pm, 7 May 2024

China said on Tuesday that one of its fighter jets warned off an Australian military helicopter in the Yellow Sea because it was “disrupting” naval training, after Washington and Canberra slammed “unsafe and unprofessional” manoeuvres by a People’s Liberation Army aircraft.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said Australia “confused right and wrong,” and accused the crew of the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart of “disrupting” its exercises in the Yellow Sea.

“The Chinese military’s relevant operations of warnings and forcing others to leave were legitimate, reasonable, professional and safe, and fully complied with international law and international practice,” Zhang said.

“We call on Australia to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and security concerns, stop spreading false narratives, strictly restrict the actions of its naval and air forces, and stop all dangerous and provocative actions to avoid damaging the overall relations between China and Australia and the two militaries.”

A Seahawk helicopter prepares to launch from the Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney on March 31. Photo: HMAS Sydney

The incident on Saturday occurred as the HMAS Hobart was enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea in international waters in the Yellow Sea, according to the Australian Defence Department.