A Chinese military jet has detonated flares near an Australian Navy helicopter which was operating in international waters, forcing the pilot to take evasive action to avoid an accident.

An Australian pilot was forced to take evasive action after a Chinese military jet detonated flares close to a Navy helicopter that was operating in international waters near South Korea.

The Defence Department has described the actions of the J-10 Chinese Air Force plane as “unsafe and unprofessional” following the incident which took place in the Yellow Sea over the weekend.

On Saturday a MH-60R Seahawk which had launched from HMAS Hobart was intercepted by the People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLA-AF) as it was taking part in a UN mission to enforce sanctions against North Korea.

    • @Cypher@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1•6 months ago

      You’re glad someone who cares about the safety of Australian citizens isn’t in power?

      Way to out yourself I guess.

      • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1•6 months ago

        China is our largest trading partner. Last year we exported $220b of stuff to China. This year it will be closer to $250b.

        Second place is Japan, at a paltry $80b this year. That’s a third.

        • @Cypher@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1•6 months ago

          So your greedy and spineless solution is to allow these bullying tactics to continue until Australians are killed, and then continue to allow trade afterwards.

          • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
            2•6 months ago

            It’s not greedy to avoid catastrophic economic collapse.

            It’s not spineless to choose an appropriate response instead of having a hissy fit.

            You don’t protect Australians by acting like a tough guy.

            • @Cypher@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1•6 months ago

              So full blown war over seeking alternative trading partners is a better outcome? Because that’s what will happen if Chinese aggression isn’t met with severe consequences.

              • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
                1•6 months ago

                Bullshit. Hyperbole.

                You talk about “seeking alternative trading partners” like we’re seeking alternative laundry powder at woolies.

                Who else will buy our iron ore who isn’t already? The answer is no one.

                  • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
                    1•6 months ago

                    You don’t seem to understand the type of damage it would do to discontinue our trade relationship with China.

                    It’s not just some company would lose a few million dollars in share value.

                    It would be economic collapse. Rolling blackouts, civil unrest, supply chain disruption, starvation, overwhelmed health services, no fuel, rioting, suburban gang violence, hyper inflation.

                    China would just be able to buy everything they don’t already own and take everything else.

                    Sometimes it takes courage to stare down an adversary, and not blink when they fire off a few scary flares.