‘Legitimate, peaceful’: Anthony Albanese hits back at China spy claims

Anthony Albanese insists the helicopter targeted by a Chinese jet was doing nothing wrong when flares were dropped in its path.

Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anthony Albanese has pushed back against China’s claims an Australian helicopter was spying on a PLA-Navy exercise when a Chinese jet dropped flares in its flightpath, declaring the ADF was engaged in “legitimate, peaceful activity” at the time.

A Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman alleged on Wednesday the Seahawk helicopter was trying to conduct “close-in reconnaissance and disturb the normal training activities of the Chinese side”.

But Mr Albanese said the Australian aircraft did nothing wrong.

“Australian Defence Force personnel were engaged in international waters, in international skies, and engaged in international work consistent with the United Nations sanctions being imposed on North Korea.

“It was legitimate, peaceful activity, which should be respected and … I’m proud of the role that Australian Defence Force personnel play in upholding international law and international sanctions, and the appropriate processes as determined by the United Nations.

“This action by China was unprofessional and unacceptable. We’ve made that very, very clear going forward.”

Beijing on Wednesday changed its story on the confrontation, accusing the Seahawk’s crew of trying to spy on a PLA-Navy ­exercise in the Yellow Sea.

“A Chinese naval fleet conducted training in relevant waters of China’s Yellow Sea from May 3 to 4, during which the Australian guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart dispatched a ship-borne helicopter … three times to conduct close-in reconnaissance and disturb the normal training activities of the Chinese side,” Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said.

He said Chinese forces sent a “vocal warning” to the Australian helicopter before conducting “legitimate, reasonable, professional and safe operations to expel it”.

Mr Albanese said the incident was “unprofessional and unacceptable”, and the government had lodged protests with Chinese officials in Canberra and Beijing.

“This is an area of disagreement. We’ve called it out,” he said.

But Colonel Zhang called on Australia to “truly respect China’s sovereignty and security concerns and “cease spreading false narratives” about the incident. “Australia’s statement confuses right and wrong and shifts the blame. We’re firmly opposed to that,” he said.

The Chinese jet dropped flares about 60m above and 300m in front of the helicopter, which was policing sanctions against North Korea in international waters, forcing the aircraft to take evasive action.

China’s Foreign Ministry claimed on Tuesday that the Australian aircraft “deliberately ­approached China’s airspace … ­endangering China’s maritime and air security”.

Mr Albanese said the comment was “confirmation that there’s no question that the Australian ­Defence Force personnel were both in international waters and in international airspace”.

Peter Dutton pressed his ­attack on the Prime Minister over the incident, calling for him to raise the matter directly with Xi Jinping. “We shouldn’t put the lives of our Australian Defence Force members at risk, and that’s what’s happening at the moment when the Prime Minister continues his silence,” the Opposition Leader said. “China doesn’t know red lines if the Prime Minister doesn’t point out very clearly where they are.”

The Albanese government opted against hauling in Beijing’s top diplomat to protest the near-miss. The ambassador was ­instead contacted by phone by an unnamed Australian official.

Neither Defence Minister Richard Marles nor Foreign Minister Penny Wong sought phone calls with their Chinese counterparts over the incident.

A MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter operating from HMAS Hobart. Picture: Defence

An Australian official told The Australian the helicopter and the ship it was flown from were operating well outside China’s contiguous zone, in which Beijing can legally prevent intrusions.

The fallout over the incident comes as the government ramps up its pushback against China in the Pacific with a $110m package for Tuvalu.

The budget package is for the first stage of the nations’ Falepili Union, which establishes special visas for Tuvaluans to live and work in Australia in return for a right of veto over the country’s ­future security relationships.