Chinese Jet Fires Flares Near Australian Plane Ahead of Trump-Albanese Meeting

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Oct 21, 2025 - 09:54 Updated: Oct 20, 2025 - 19:26
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Chinese Jet Fires Flares Near Australian Plane Ahead of Trump-Albanese Meeting

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Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says he has raised concerns with Beijing after a Chinese People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter jet again released flares near a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) plane during a routine patrol over the South China Sea.

The Australian government revealed the situation in an announcement on the afternoon of Oct. 20, just as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The incident unfolded on Oct. 19.

“An Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducting a maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea experienced an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a PLAAF Su-35 fighter aircraft,” the government statement said.

“The PLAAF aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft. This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and its personnel.”

Marles said the aircrew had landed safety and avoided injury.

“We have sought now in instances of this kind to have a very set procedure,” he told reporters.

“And so firstly, we are making the incident public. Secondly, we have advocated or raised this issue with the Chinese Embassy here in Canberra, and we have also made representations via our embassy in Beijing.”

Marles said rules-based order and freedom of navigation in air and on the sea was fundamental to Australia’s national interests.

He said that having another jet come alongside the Australian plane was pretty routine, as was releasing flares, but on two occasions, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) jet released its flares “very close” to the P-8.

“Having reviewed the incident very carefully, we have deemed this to be both unsafe and unprofessional,” Marles said.

In its statement, the Department of Defence said Australia expected all nations to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.

“For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace,” the statement said.

“All maritime claims must be consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

Regular Intimidation Tactics

It is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the South China Sea.
In February, a CCP fighter jet released flares just 30 metres from another Australian P-8 aircraft as it conducted routine patrols over the area.
While in May 2024, an Australian Navy Seahawk helicopter was forced to take evasive action after a CCP warplane dropped flares in its flight path.
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Earlier this year, the CCP sent three naval vessels to circumvent Australia while seemingly conducting live fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, disrupting 49 commercial flights.
Meanwhile, for Prime Minister Albanese, defence will be top of mind in his discussions with the U.S. president amid a review of the AUKUS trilateral partnership that will see Australia armed with nuclear-powered submarines.
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