Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed the government’s concern after a Chinese warship injured personnel aboard an Australian navy vessel by using a sonar device. The incident took place on Nov. 14 when a Chinese destroyer approached an area where the Australian Navy’s HMAS Toowoomba was conducting a mission in international waters inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Despite warnings that Australian navy personnel were in the water, the Chinese destroyer turned on its hull-mounted sonar, resulting in minor injuries to divers who were near the frigate.
Senator Wong emphasized that the safety and wellbeing of Australian defense personnel is the highest priority. She stated that Australia had raised serious concerns with Chinese authorities regarding what they regard as an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy destroyer. These events occurred within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and international waters, leading Australia to expect all countries, including themselves, to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism for not raising the issue with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping at a recent APEC meeting on Nov. 17. He clarified that the incident was raised through normal channels, emphasizing that it was dangerous, unsafe, and unprofessional from the Chinese warship, leading to damage in the relationship. In response, Beijing accused Australia of “making trouble” and coming up with “rude” and “irresponsible” accusations, claiming that the destroyer did not carry out any activities that might have affected the divers and “kept a safe distance from the Australian ship.”
In response to the incident, the communist regime’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, claimed the Chinese military was “strictly disciplined” and always “operated professionally in accordance with international law and international common practices.” Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles held the “2+2 Dialogue” talks with their Indian counterparts on Nov. 20 to discuss the two countries’ cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and mutual concerns about Beijing, among others.
India’s relations with the CCP have deteriorated since a 2020 border clash between their militaries, in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed. Senator Wong highlighted that Australia and India both had significant economic relationships with China and recognized its importance in the region. She expressed Australia’s commitment to cooperating where possible, disagreeing where necessary, and engaging in their national interest.