U.S. Defense: China’s Targeting of Australian Military Planes Aggressive and Irresponsible”

The Guardian reported on July 29, Ely Ratner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, commented on Thursday that the Communist China has targeted Australian military planes in the Indo-Pacific region in an attempt to challenge the rules-based order and assert greater control over the region. Its “aggressive and irresponsible” behavior has become one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves from a vehicle as he reviews the troops at a military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of People’s Republic of China, on its National Day in Beijing, China October 1, 2019. 

Ratner said, these incidents, including the targeting of Australian aircraft earlier this year, “were not isolated”. The number of unsafe interceptions of Australia military aircraft by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has increased dramatically over the past five years, with dozens of dangerous incidents occurring in the first half of this year alone. Such aggressive and irresponsible behavior is one of the most significant threats to regional peace and stability today, including in the South China Sea.

In February, a PLA Army Navy warship directed a military-grade laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft.

More recently in May, a CCP fighter jet forced a RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft into a “dangerous maneuver”. The Chinese aircraft flew close to the Australian one, released flares, cut across its nose and settled in front of it. At that moment, it then released a bundle of chaff, which contains of small pieces of aluminum, some of which was sucked into the engine of the Auarelian aircraft.

Ratner said the PLA continuing behaviors could result in a “major incident or accident”. The U.S. had to “demonstrate the will and capability to properly deter [People’s Republic of China] aggression”.

That would require to build a “combat-credible forward presence” in the region, and bolster allies’ capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.