🗞️Chinese Actions Labeled "Unprofessional and Unacceptable" by PM Albanese
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Australia's risky helicopter interception in international waters, the source of the most recent military skirmish between the two nations, has angered China's Foreign Ministry.
China has been accused by Australia of acting dangerously. However, Australia was placed at fault by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, who claimed that the helicopter "deliberately flew within close range of China's airspace in a provocative move".
In reaction to China's attack on an Australian Navy helicopter, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire from Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, who calls him "weak."
Mr. Hastie said to Chris Kenny of Sky News that the prime minister was responding weakly.
"Over the past two years, the Chinese People's Liberation Army has shown us a pattern of aggressive behaviour towards the ADF, which includes this most recent incident."
China's actions have been described as "unprofessional and unacceptable" by Mr. Albanese earlier today. “The circumstances of this, I can't speak to the motivation of what's occurred here. I can say though, that it's unprofessional and unacceptable. That's our position very clearly.”
“ On the incident that we have reported on, we have made very strong representations at every level to China about this incident, which we regard as unprofessional and unacceptable. Australian Defence Force personnel were going about their job. Their job in international waters, but also in international skies, to support the United Nations in the sanctions that they have against the North Korean regime. That is part of Australia being good global citizens and Australian Defence Force personnel should not be at risk whilst they're doing that. So we have a very clear position there,” He said.
“We do have communications with China. That includes visits and the Chinese Premier will be here in June. We will make our position clear as well in discussions, as we do. One of the things that had broken down over a period of time was any dialogue. Dialogue is important. It's always, always important to have avenues of communication, and that's why we've used all of those avenues of communication to make our position on this incident very clear.”
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Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition and former minister of defence in the Morrison government, insisted that Mr. Albanese bring up the issue with Jinping directly.
“It certainly is – and it's not the first time, as we know . We've had attacks before on our naval divers. I think the Prime Minister needs to pick the phone up, frankly, and speak to the Chinese President, to President Xi, and express our deep concern. Because, at some stage, there's going to be a miscalculation and an Australian Defence Force member is going to lose their life. That is a tragic circumstance that has to be avoided at all costs. But, there will be a miscalculation by somebody who's flying that jet or somebody who's on the deck of a Chinese naval ship. Something will happen and that's what, not just Australia is worried about, the Philippines, Japan, obviously the United States, many other countries in the region, who are very worried about these acts that continue to be provocative, and completely and utterly unnecessary,” Dutton said.
On 4 May 2024, HMAS Hobart was in international waters in the Yellow Sea undertaking routine activities as part of Operation Argos, Australia’s contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
During these activities, a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter launched from HMAS Hobart was intercepted by a PLA-AF fighter aircraft.
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