China warns Australia off South China Sea after aircraft confrontation
In this photo provided by the Australian Defence Force, an Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon aircraft performs a handling display during the Newcastle Williamtown Air Show on November 18, 2023
CHINA dismissed Australian claims today it engaged in an “unsafe and unprofessional” confrontation with the Australian military in the South China Sea.
A Chinese J-16 fighter released flares on Tuesday that came within 100 feet of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet near the Paracel Islands.
The islands are disputed between China and Vietnam and lie about 220 miles from each, but are over 2,000 miles from Australia. China has administered them since defeating the South Vietnamese navy in a clash over them in 1974.
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