China Denies Provocation in Yellow Sea Encounter with Australian MH-60R Helicopter

The Chinese government responded on Tuesday to accusations from Australia regarding an alleged "unsafe" encounter when an Australian MH-60R helicopter was intercepted by an unnamed Chinese fighter jet over the Yellow Sea.

According to a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, an Australian military aircraft approached China's airspace in what was described as a provocative manner, posing risks to maritime air security. "The Australian military aircraft flew near China's airspace in a threatening way," stated Lin Jian during a routine news briefing.

In a statement on May 6, Australia revealed that on May 4, HMAS Hobart was in international waters in the Yellow Sea conducting routine activities as part of Operation Argos, Australia’s contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea.

During these activities, a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter launched from HMAS Hobart was intercepted by a PLA-AF fighter aircraft. The PLA-AF aircraft released flares across the flight path of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter. This unsafe maneuver posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel. Fortunately, there were no injuries sustained by ADF personnel, and no damage was caused to the MH-60R helicopter, according to the Australian Defence Ministry.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned this behavior as "completely unacceptable."

China, on its part, asserted that its military took necessary measures to warn and alert the Australian side during the encounter. Lin stressed that China has formally protested against Australia's actions and urged them to cease provocations to prevent further misunderstandings.

Notably, this incident coincides with expectations of the Chinese premier's upcoming visit to Australia next month. The timing raises questions about the potential impact on diplomatic relations between the two countries.