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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
World

Australia, China trade barbs over midair encounter above South China Sea

The Australian Defence Force said its Poseidon surveillance plane was flying a "routine" patrol over the contested Paracel Islands in the South China Sea when a Chinese aircraft Shenyang J-16 approached and dropped flares [File: Australian Defence via AFP]

Australia has accused China of “unsafe” military manoeuvre after a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea, drawing a quick pushback from Beijing.

The Australian Defence Force said on Thursday that its plane was flying a “routine” surveillance patrol over the contested waters on February 11 when the Chinese aircraft Shenyang J-16 approached.

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