Australia Protests PLA Su-35 Flares Near P-8A

Australia lodged a diplomatic protest after a PLA Su-35 fighter released flares very close to a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol over the South China Sea; there were no injuries or damage. Defence Minister Richard Marles condemned the manoeuvre as "unsafe and unprofessional," saying the proximity posed a significant risk given the Poseidon's limited manoeuvrability compared with fighters. The incident is the latest in a string of hazardous encounters — including earlier flare drops, chaff releases and sonar use — that analysts say may reflect attempts to deter Western patrols in contested waters. The episode occurred as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travelled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump; China had not immediately commented on the specific event.