An unprovoked attack forced crew to employ emergency scenario.

A Communist China’s fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military reconnaissance plane in the South China Sea region in May, Australia’s defence department said on Sunday.

The Royal Australian Air Force P-8 maritime reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted by a Communist China’s J-16 fighter during “routine maritime surveillance activity” in international airspace in the region on May 26, defence said in a statement.

The intercept resulted in a dangerous manoeuvre which posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew, it said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Perth that his government had expressed concerns to China “through appropriate channels”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Chinese jet flew very close in front of the RAAF aircraft and released a “bundle of chaff” containing small pieces of aluminium that were ingested into the Australian aircraft’s engine.

Quite obviously this is very dangerous, Mr.Marles told ABC television.

Shadow Minister for Defence Mr. Andrew Hastie called the incident aggressive challenge.

Personal diplomacy is not enough: we must be strong, Mr. Hastie emphasised.