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Chinese fighter jet 'chaffs' Australian plane: Canberra [cnn.com]:

Chinese fighter jet 'chaffs' Australian plane near South China Sea, Canberra alleges

The Chinese J-16 drew alongside the Australian P-8 while it was on a routine surveillance mission in international airspace last month before releasing flares and chaff that entered at least one of the Australian aircraft's engines, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said.

Military planes usually release chaff -- typically tiny strips of aluminum or zinc -- as a deliberate countermeasure to confuse missiles, but can also use it to sabotage pursuing aircraft.

In a statement, Australia's Defense Ministry described the encounter as "a dangerous maneuver which posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew."

"The J-16 aircraft flew very close to the side of the P-8 ... in flying close to the side, it released flares," Marles told Australia's 9News [9news.com.au] in an televised interview.

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