Reuters-Chinese official warns Australia on navy movements in East South China Seas
November 28, 2023 2 min 381 words
这则报道反映了中澳两国在南海和东海的海军活动引发的紧张局势。中国高级官员刘建超敦促澳大利亚在争议海域的海军行动中提前通知，并警告军事间的小事件可能升级并损害两国关系。他质疑澳大利亚海军为何在中日争议水域活动，并指出澳方可能试图通过海军存在来遏制中国。刘建超呼吁澳大利亚政府和军方在该地区行事要谨慎，同时表达希望澳大利亚在国家安全因素方面重新审视对中国投资的筛查。报道体现了中澳之间复杂而敏感的关系，突显了南海和东海局势的紧张。在国际法框架下保持透明和谨慎行事，是避免冲突升级的关键。
China has urged Australia to notify it of navy movements in the contested South China Sea and East China Sea, with a senior Chinese official cautioning that a small incident between militaries could escalate and damage ties.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week said a Chinese warship acted in a dangerous manner by using its sonar during an incident with an Australian navy vessel in Japan's waters that injured a military diver.
The same Australian vessel, Toowoomba, began joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea for the first time on Saturday, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Manila over a disputed shoal.
Speaking in Sydney on Tuesday, the head of the international department of the Chinese Communist Party, Liu Jianchao, said the sonar incident took place in waters where there is a dispute between Japan and China, and questioned why the Australian navy was there.
Liu, who denied China had harmed Australian navy personnel, called for "any kind of pre-consultations or notification" to prevent misunderstandings from happening between two militaries.
"Such small incidents could really escalate if it's not properly managed," he said, referring to public emotions. He was speaking in response to questions at an event hosted by the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Liu said the presence of Australia's navy vessels appeared to be a statement about China's policies in the South China Sea. "The reason why the Australian naval ships were there was really to contain China - so that is the message that we have been getting", he said.
He urged the Australian government and military to "act with great prudence in this area".
Australia has previously said it respects the right of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law. Two-thirds of Australian trade passes through the South China Sea.
This month Albanese made the first visit by an Australian leader to China in seven years, after efforts by both sides to stabilize the relationship.
Liu said he hoped Australia could revise its screening of Chinese investment on national security factors.
Two rare earth investments by Chinese companies have been blocked by the Foreign Investment Review Board this year, and Australia has sought greater investment in the sector by the United States.