An Australian warship has been branded a “habitual offender” by a major Chinese media outlet over its deployments in the South China Sea during past weeks.
The Global Times newspaper, which operates under the auspices of the Chinese communist government, made the claim as the Royal Australian Navy completed a three-day joint exercise with Philippines warships and aircraft in the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone on Monday.
The Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba, which was involved in a sonar incident earlier this month with a Chinese navy vessel that left an Australian diver injured, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft took part in the drills, held as part of a new strategic partnership.
China’s People’s Liberation Army was likely monitoring the joint Australian-Philippines naval exercise, defence experts told The Global Times.
“Australia’s HMAS Toowoomba frigate’s participation in the joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea means it has become a habitual offender against China over the past two weeks,” the media outlet said.
During an incident near Japan on November 14, according to Australian authorities, a Chinese ship deployed its sonar despite being told divers from HMAS Toowoomba were in the water removing fishing netting from a propeller.
The incident left a diver with minor injuries, although China has disputed Australia’s version of events.
Then last Thursday, the vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the narrow body of water between China and Taiwan that is the source of much contention between Beijing and Western nations.
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Beijing has claimed almost the entire South China Sea – a vast, strategically vital waterway where shipping worth trillions of dollars in trade sails through every year.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan dispute the claims by China, which have long been regarded as a potential Asian flashpoint and a delicate fault line in the US-China rivalry in the region.
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Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was committed to the rule of international law in the region.
“Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to a peaceful, secure and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected,” he said.
“The first maritime cooperative activity between the Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this important commitment.”
