7 mar 2023 06:30 am
Australian Air Force chiefs have announced that they will offer psychological help to pilots who encounter Chinese military jets during an operation over the South China Sea.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots are offered psychological help after clashes with Chinese warplanes over the South China Sea. It is important that crews receive appropriate debriefing after stressful operations, RAAF Air Commander Deputy Marshal Darren Goldie told the news channel on Monday ABC. “It’s important for the mental health of our pilots who are exposed to things like interceptors or challenges on the radio that we talk to them about what’s going on and let them know what help is available if they need anything during the mission should have worried.”
Special attention is paid to the well-being of pilots who are not in the pilot’s seat, as they feel more stress than their flying counterparts during critical airborne encounters, Goldie said. According to the deputy marshal, the Air Force has also adapted and improved the training sessions of its pilots in view of the recent events. This was necessary because the operational environment over the South China Sea had recently changed again.
Most of this body of water in the western Pacific is claimed by China and other countries as part of their own territory. As a result, the US and its allies, including Australia, have recently been conducting frequent naval and air operations in the South China Sea, as Washington insists it “challenges excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant.” “There has been a trend lately towards a more aggressive attitude,” said RAAF chief Rob Chipman, referring to the Chinese pilots.
“When this is the case, we raise these issues and concerns through diplomatic channels.”
Last June, Canberra accused Beijing of a dangerous intercept, in which a Chinese J-16 fighter jet dropped a bag of “chaff” into the flight path of an Australian P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. According to the Australian military, the Chinese pilot’s action resulted in aluminum splinters being sucked into the RAAF plane’s engine. The Chinese Defense Ministry argued at the time that the pilot acted reasonably and lawfully as the Australian plane threatened China’s sovereignty and security.
As part of Operation Gateway, Australia is conducting maritime surveillance patrols in the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea. However, Beijing “resolutely” rejects Canberra’s military actions in the region.
More on the subject – Europe has already been destabilized by NATO – is it now Asia’s turn?
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