Australian warships have encountered the Chinese navy in the disputed South China Sea at a time of intense diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The Australian government has downplayed the encounter, which is believed to have happened last week, and said Thursday that “all interactions with foreign warships during the deployment were carried out in a safe and professional manner.”
ABC first reported that Australian warships had encountered the Chinese navy during a voyage that included voyages near the Spratly Islands, although Australian ships were believed to be within 12 nautical miles of the islands in dispute.
A defense spokesman confirmed that five Australian warships, HMAS Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius, “transited the South China Sea independently” from July 14 to 18, including near the Spratly Islands. They were headed to Hawaii to join a United States-led military exercise known as Rimpac.
The spokesperson said that all interactions with foreign warships were handled in a safe and professional manner “as we would expect in response to ships operating in international waters in accordance with international law.”
There were “routine and professional naval communications” and “no confrontation,” the spokesperson added.
The news of the meeting comes after the Trump administration hardened its position against China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea, prompting Beijing to label the United States as a “troublemaker” that was making claims. ” completely unjustified “that China was intimidating the smallest countries in the region.
Diplomatic tensions between China and Australia have also escalated, fueled by a dispute over Canberra’s call for a Covid-19 investigation, along with Beijing’s imposition of tariffs on Australian barley and disagreement over the new national security law in Hong Hong.
The five Australian warships left Darwin on July 5 and have participated in drills with Japan and the United States in the Philippine Sea this week before heading to Hawaii for Rimpac.
Defense says ADF ships joined the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which included the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam and the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin, and Japan’s Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki for joint activities in the Philippine Sea. week.
This week’s joint activities have included replenishment at sea, aviation operations, maritime maneuvers, and communications drills, according to a defense statement released Tuesday.
Captain Sakano Yusuke, commander of Japan’s Escort Division 4, said this week’s exercise would provide the three countries with “tactical and operational advantages and would strengthen our friendships, in addition to our regular joint exercises with both like-minded navies.” .
United States Army Captain Russ Caldwell, commander of the USS Antietam, said the United States was “fortunate to routinely operate alongside its allies in the Indo-Pacific, and coordinated operations such as these reinforce our mutual commitment to maritime standards. international and promote regional stability. “
Australia’s defense strategy update, released earlier this month, warned that the Covid-19 pandemic was sharpening aspects of competition between the US and China, and Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, He accused Beijing of taking some measures that had “disturbed the stability of our region.”
Mike Pompeo, the United States Secretary of State, said last week that the world “would not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire” and that the United States “will support the international community in defense of freedom. of the seas and respect for sovereignty ”in the region.
When asked last week about the implications for Australia, a defense spokesperson told Guardian Australia that ADF ships and aircraft “would maintain our presence in the South China Sea and continue to exercise rights in accordance with international law, of according to our national interests “, but do not comment on future operations.
Scott Morrison, the prime minister, also said that Australia “will continue to adopt a position of support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.”
It was revealed on Wednesday that an Australian defense contractor was among a number of victims of an alleged piracy operation by two Chinese citizens, according to a complaint released by the United States, prompting the Australian government to say it was concerned about the alleged intrusions and urging “all countries” not to breach their international commitments.
A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry later accused the United States of “slandering China under the guise of cyber security” and said that the United States had actually been “carrying out cyber thefts of the largest scale in the entire world”.
