Australia has accused a Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares close to its P-8A patrol jet over the South China Sea on Sunday. There was no harm to the aircraft and its personnel. China also accused the Australian jet of “illegally intruding” into China’s airspace, adding that it had to be expelled. Sunday’s encounter is the latest in a series of tensions between the two nations’ forces in the region, where China’s wide territorial claims overlap with those of neighbouring countries. In February, too, Australia accused a Chinese jet of dropping flares near its aircraft in the area, while China said the Australian plane had intentionally entered its airspace. Previous incidents also include a May 2024 flare drop near an Australian navy helicopter in the Yellow Sea and a Nove

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