Reuters-Safety of defence personnel utmost priority Australia says after China warship incident
November 21, 2023 2 min 420 words
澳大利亚外交部长黄旭燕在中国战舰与澳军舰相撞事件后强调，保障澳洲国防人员的安全是澳大利亚的首要任务，同时期望所有国家都能以安全和专业的方式操作军队。她批评中国军舰在日本专属经济区的行为为不安全和不专业，并表示已向中方提出严重关切。这一事件恰逢两国改善关系之际，中方则否认指责，称澳舰在潜水作业中安全距离外，并未影响澳方操作。这次事件不仅考验两国关系，也凸显了印太地区紧张局势。黄旭燕在印度与印度外长共同举行的记者会上表明，澳大利亚将在必要时采取不同立场，同时强调与中国保持经济关系。这次事件将进一步影响澳中关系，也加深了印太地区的不确定性。
The safety and wellbeing of Australian defence personnel is Canberra's "utmost priority" and Australia expects all countries to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday.
Wong's comments came a week after an incident involving a Chinese warship and an Australian navy vessel in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which an Australian military diver was injured.
"We have raised our serious concerns with the Chinese authorities following what we regard as unsafe and unprofessional interaction with the PLA Navy destroyer," she said, reiterating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's comments on Monday.
"These events occurred within Japan's EEZ and international waters and Australia's principled position is that we expect all countries, including ourselves, to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner," Wong said at a joint press conference with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi.
HMAS Toowoomba - a long-range frigate - was conducting a diving operation on Nov. 14 to clear fishing nets from its propellers when the Chinese warship acted in a dangerous manner, Australia has said.
A People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA) destroyer approached HMAS Toowoomba, despite the Australian vessel notifying the Chinese warship of a diving operation, and operated its hull-mounted sonar in a manner that posed a safety risk, Australia has said.
Beijing has rejected the accusations as reckless and irresponsible and urged Canberra to respect the facts, in an incident which comes amid efforts by the two countries to improve relations.
The Chinese destroyer Ningbo monitored and identified HMAS Toowoomba, all while keeping a safe distance from it and did not carry out any activities that might affect the diving operations of the Australian side, Beijing has said.
Wong and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles held talks known as the "2+2 Dialogue" with their Indian counterparts on Monday to discuss their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and mutual concerns about China, among others.
India's relations with China have deteriorated since a 2020 border clash between their militaries in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed.
Wong said Australia and India both have very substantive economic relationship with China, recognise China’s importance and place in the region, and will continue to engage with it.
Australia, she added, "will cooperate where we can, we will disagree where we must, and we will engage in our national interest".