Chinese fighter jets, particularly the J-16, have been engaging in increasingly aggressive intercept tactics, posing flares and chaff near foreign aircraft, notably a recent incident with an Australian P-8A. This pattern has raised safety concerns among former pilots and has been linked to heightened tensions in the South China Sea, a disputed area where territorial claims by China are contested by neighboring countries and the US. Beijing defends its actions as legitimate, while the Australian Department of Defense warns of risks to aircraft and personnel.
This tactic has been appearing more frequently amid increases in aggressive intercepts.
The South China Sea has been a flashpoint for years now.
Australia's defense department stated that the J-16 posed "a risk to the aircraft and personnel."
Beijing stated its military's actions were "legitimate, lawful, and professional."
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