Australia has raised concerns with China following an “unsafe and unprofessional” encounter between two military helicopters, the defence department said on Friday.
An Australian military helicopter was flying over international waters in the Yellow Sea when it was intercepted by a Chinese helicopter on Wednesday, a statement said.
The Chinese helicopter matched the Australian aircraft’s altitude before “closing in to an unsafe distance”, increasing speed and then rolling towards it, requiring the Australian crew to take “evasive action”.
“This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to our aircraft and its personnel,” the statement said.
Australia was undertaking a routine patrol in the Yellow Sea as part of the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, it said.
No injuries were reported in the encounter between the People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter and the aircraft of the Australian Defence Force.
flares, encounter, Yellow Sea, military helicopters, Australia, international waters, People's Liberation Army-Navy, East China Sea, UN Security Council, China, reconnaissance, Australian Defence Force, North Korea, Jiang Bin, United Nations Security Council#Australia #complains #China #encounter #military #helicopters1772822582
Australia
Australian Defence Force
China
complains
East China Sea
encounter
Flares
helicopters
international waters
Jiang Bin
military
military helicopters
North Korea
People's Liberation Army Navy
reconnaissance
UN Security Council
United Nations Security Council
Yellow Sea
