Australia lodges protest as Chinese jet deploys flares near patrol plane in South China Sea

Australia has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with China after a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet dangerously dropped flares near an Australian P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft during a routine surveillance mission over the South China Sea. Defence Minister Richard Marles condemned the action as "unsafe and unprofessional," highlighting that this is the second such incident this year involving flare deployment close to Australian military aircraft. The event underscores escalating military tensions in the strategically vital South China Sea, where freedom of navigation is contested by China but upheld by Australia and its allies. Australia has communicated its concerns both directly to the Chinese embassy in Canberra and through its embassy in Beijing, emphasizing the need for all militaries to act safely and professionally. While China has not issued an immediate response, the incident is likely to strain fragile Australia-China defense relations and prompt calls for greater transparency and adherence to rules-based conduct in contested airspace. Australia is expected to raise this issue in regional defense forums while seeking to maintain open diplomatic channels to avoid further confrontation.