Overview
- Australia says a PLA Su-35 twice released flares very close to an RAAF P-8A on Oct. 19 during a South China Sea patrol, with no injuries or damage reported.
- Officials in Canberra deem the encounter unsafe and unprofessional and reaffirm long-standing surveillance operations under international law.
- The government raised the incident with China through diplomatic channels in Canberra and Beijing, asserting the aircraft was in international airspace over international waters.
- China’s Southern Theatre Command and Defence Ministry accuse the P-8A of illegally intruding into airspace over the Paracel/Xisha Islands and describe PLA actions as lawful, professional and restrained.
- The clash fits a pattern of hazardous encounters since 2024 involving flares, chaff and sonar, highlighting ongoing safety risks and contested legal claims in the region.