Australia has accused a pilot of a Chinese fighter jet of carrying out a dangerous tactic near one of its aircraft over the South China Sea.
It says a Chinese plane fired flames and cut in front of an Australian plane.
The Chinese jet then released the “husks” – a radar detergent that incorporates small pieces of aluminum into the engine of an Australian airplane.
Beijing claims the majority of the region as its territory.
The Royal Australian Air Force P-8 was hijacked on May 26 by a Chinese military jet J-16, during a patrol operation, said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“The hijacking of the aircraft resulted in serious injuries that threatened the safety of the P-8 aircraft and its crew,” he said.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the Chinese aircraft flew very close to the front of the RAAF plane and released a “bundle of shells” containing small pieces of aluminum that had been injected into an Australian aircraft engine.
“Obviously this is very dangerous,” Mr Marles told ABC TV.
In a statement, the Australian Defense Ministry said it had “for decades been conducting maritime surveillance operations in the region” and was “acting in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of movement and flight in international waters and air”.
Beijing did not comment on the incident. China has been building military infrastructure there in recent years.
But the US, neighboring countries, including Australia, are opposed to its claim.
In February, Australia accused a Chinese military ship of lighting a military-level laser aimed at one of its warplanes over the Arafura Sea in northern Australia.