Australia says China’s behavior ‘unacceptable’ after alleged air incident

ANKARA

China on Tuesday dismissed Australia's accusation that it endangered an Australian military helicopter above the Yellow Sea.

“We’ve just made it very clear to China that this is unprofessional and that it’s unacceptable,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an interview with Nine Network television.

Canberra accused Beijing of dropping flares near an Australian helicopter on a UN mission in international waters during the weekend.

Albanese said the Australian Defense Forces were taking part in an operation to enforce UN sanctions on North Korea.

"It's important that we make clear our position, which has been done at the diplomatic levels, at government to government, but also defense to defense as well. And all of those avenues have been made clear," he said.

However, Albanese said Beijing has not yet responded publicly to Australia’s representations over the incident.

"I expect that they will do so. But I think the Australian public would expect some form of explanation about how this could occur, because it was not behavior that we expect when Australia is going about playing a role, as we do, an important role, as good international citizens," he added.

Australia endangered China’s air and maritime security

Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the Australian aircraft “deliberately” flew within close range of China’s airspace in a provocative move that endangered the country’s maritime and air security in the name of enforcing UN Security Council’s resolutions.

“The Chinese military took necessary measures at the scene to warn and alert the Australian side. The way the situation was handled was consistent with our laws and regulations, professional and safe,” Lin told reporters in Beijing, according to a transcript by the ministry.

China has lodged serious protests against Australia for its risky moves, he added.

“We urge Australia to immediately stop the provocations and hypes to prevent misunderstanding and miscalculation,” he added.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid and Aamir Latif