UK Air Force chief says Australia should release video of China jet flare confrontation

The United States released video footage last year of a Chinese fighter jet launching flares as it intercepted a US plane. (US Department of Defense)

Britain’s visiting Air Force Chief has encouraged Australia to release any images it collects of dangerous activity by the Chinese military to help call out Beijing’s unacceptable behaviour in the region.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton is in Canberra for talks with international counterparts, just days after a Chinese jet fired flares towards an Australian Navy helicopter while it was operating in international waters off South Korea.

The Seahawk pilot had launched from HMAS Hobart on Saturday and was forced to take urgent evasive action during the Yellow Sea incident, which has since prompted diplomatic and military protests from Australia.

In an interview with the ABC, the Chief of the Air Staff said the British military regularly publicises evidence of similar encounters with Russian warplanes to highlight unacceptable conduct.

“The key lesson is around communication, being super clear about calling out poor behaviour, demonstrating that with the use of video footage and really signalling very clearly to Russia and China and to their air forces what a professional intercept looks like,” Sir Richard said.

He argued highlighting dangerous intercepts can demonstrate “why it’s dangerous to conduct them in that unprofessional way and how that can lead to miscalculation and ultimately to accidents which I think would be an awful outcome through sheer incompetence and lack of professionalism”.

Asked if Australia should follow the lead of the United Kingdom and United States in releasing more detailed information and images of confrontations, he said doing so could help counter “misinformation” spread by Russia and China following events.

“Quite often it makes sense for us to show and release the imagery so we can prove what happened in practice and debunk some of the misinformation that gets pushed out by Russia and China,” he said.

“We’ve certainly seen in the Black Sea where we’ve been able to release footage, where people can see what’s happened that that’s helped understanding and helped make clear to our adversaries that what they’re doing is unacceptable and why it’s dangerous.”

Privately, senior figures from Australia’s closest military partners have long questioned the level of secrecy of defence officials in Canberra, as well as the high level of control exerted by political leaders over information that is released publicly.

China poaching western military veterans

In a wide-ranging interview, Britain’s Air Force Chief also warned China continued to entice veterans from western militaries with large amounts of money to provide defence training and secrets.

Two years ago, the UK introduced new penalties to stop former Royal Air Force pilots from becoming paid instructors for the People’s Liberation Army.

Sir Richard said, despite counter efforts by nations such as Australia, the threat remains.

“We know that China is offering large amounts of money to people to go and train PLA forces and in doing so we are enhancing, those people who go are enhancing China’s capability,” he told the ABC.

“Despite the legal restrictions we’ve put in place, despite the investigations into individuals, large sums of money continue to attract certain types of people.

“We will continue to need to be vigilant and continue to need to fight against these people going out there and frankly leaking secrets to our adversaries.”

On Wednesday, the Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force delivered a blunt assessment of the country’s readiness for air combat, warning his service must strengthen its workforce.

Opening the international Air and Space conference in Canberra, Air Marshal Robert Chipman conceded military leaders had “missed the indicators and warnings of a deteriorating strategic environment” and more needed to be done despite recent large investments.

“We are still at risk of capability stagflation, low preparedness, workforce hollowness and ongoing budget pressure. Our first challenge is to strengthen our workforce,” he said.