US Navy chief blasts China's 'provocative' interceptions

A US Defence Department report released last month said since mid-2021, there had been 180 documented instances of Chinese warplanes intercepting US planes in the Indo-Pacific, and a further 100 cases of Chinese challenges to US and allies' and partners' ships and aircraft. The report cited two instances in 2022 when Chinese planes had targeted Australian P-8 surveillance aircraft, with Admiral Paparo confirming Australian forces had been subjected to "unsafe" actions by the Chinese. "They are increasingly provocative and it's deeply concerning," he said. "At times they have hazarded themselves and they've hazarded the vessels and aircraft they have interacted…