The Chinese military has published a 12-second video claiming to show an Australian surveillance aircraft flying in a "malicious" and "unprofessional" manner close to warships from the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N).
Last month, Australia accused the Chinese military of putting lives at risk during the encounter, when a laser was pointed towards a RAAF P-8 Poseidon as it monitored two warships sailing east through the Arafura Sea.
Now the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) has again hit back, releasing a brief video clip recorded on the deck of a warship, purporting to show the RAAF aircraft flying close by in a "nuisance" manner.
"It is evident in the video taken by the Chinese naval ship that the Australian military aircraft was conducting close-in reconnaissance on Chinese naval vessels," said MND spokesman Senior Colonel Tan Kefei.
"The Australian military aircraft's conduct was malicious in intention and unprofessional in operation and posed threats to the safety of ships, aircraft and personnel of both sides."
Australian officials sceptical of video's authenticity
Australian government figures have expressed strong scepticism about the authenticity of the 12-second vision, which was first published last week but has not been widely seen until now.
"You wouldn't even know if that was our plane – it's like [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov saying they didn't bomb the Ukrainian hospital, it's just farcical," one senior minister told the ABC.
Another government official described the video as "the vaguest footage," noting that the Australian Defence Force has declared that its P-8 Poseidon remained approximately 4 kilometres from the Chinese vessels throughout.
In a February 22 statement, the Defence Department insisted the RAAF aircraft "was acting within international law at all times" when it was hit by the Chinese laser.
"The laser was detected as emanating from a People's Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessel. Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident," it said.
"At the time of the lasing incident, the RAAF P-8 was approximately 7.7 kilometres from the PLA-N vessel and was flying at an altitude of 457m."
Chinese officials have previously not denied the PLA-N used a laser against the Australian surveillance aircraft, although the ABC understands Beijing has since stated in formal correspondence that it never occurred.
In February, China's National Defence Ministry said the PLA-N "maintained safe, normative and professional operations" and accused the Australian side of spreading "false information" and making an "irresponsible claim".
Australian P-8 conducting surveillance missions in East China Sea
While Australian and Chinese officials continue to disagree over the February laser incident, the Defence Department has confirmed a RAAF P-8 Poseidon has recently conducted surveillance patrols in the East China Sea.
According to a pro-Chinese government website that publishes military material and tracks activity in the South China Sea, an Australian surveillance plane was observed flying out of Japan's Kadena Air Base on February 24, heading towards mainland China.
In response to questions about the surveillance mission, a Defence spokesperson told the ABC: "Our maritime surveillance patrols are not directed at any particular country."
"Australian Defence Force (ADF) maritime surveillance patrols form part of our routine deployments to the region and are conducted in accordance with international law.
"These patrols form part of Defence's longstanding contribution to the preservation of security and stability in the region," the spokesperson added.
"Australia has a strong interest in the security and stability of vital waterways such as the South China Sea."
An RAAF P8-A Poseidon is currently deployed to Japan on Operation ARGOS, Australia's commitment to support the enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.
