The Chinese navy is accused of “dangerous” behavior by the Australian prime minister.

The Prime Minister of Australia has criticized the Chinese navy for what he termed “dangerous, unsafe, and unprofessional” behavior following an incident in international waters near Japan. This comes as a potential source of tension with Beijing, occurring just weeks after the Prime Minister’s visit to the Chinese capital aimed at stabilizing relations.

The incident involved Australian divers from the HMAS Toowoomba, a long-range frigate, who were working to remove fishing nets from the ship’s propellers on November 14. As they were engaged in this operation, a Chinese destroyer approached, disregarding warnings of the ongoing diving activity. According to Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles, the Chinese vessel used its sonar in a way that jeopardized the safety of the Australian divers, forcing them to leave the water. The divers reportedly suffered minor injuries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed serious concern in an interview with Sky News, an affiliate of CNN. He mentioned that the actions of the Chinese navy resulted in an injury to one of the divers. While he did not confirm discussing this specific incident with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the recent APEC summit in San Francisco, Albanese assured that Australia had conveyed its stance to China in a clear and unequivocal manner.

In response to queries about this incident, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed the Chinese military is highly disciplined and professional, adhering to international law and practices. Ning urged for the cessation of provocations near China and for collaborative efforts to maintain the improving relations between China and Australia.

China’s Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the incident, as per CNN.

This naval encounter occurred a week after Prime Minister Albanese’s significant visit to Beijing, the first by an Australian leader in seven years, aimed at mending strained bilateral relations following years of economic tensions. When asked if this incident might destabilize the bilateral relations, Albanese highlighted Australia’s approach to cooperate where possible but to voice disagreements when necessary, firmly opposing the recent actions of the Chinese navy and emphasizing that such incidents should be avoided.

“Dangerous and unprofessional” exchange

On Saturday, Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that the Australian government had raised “serious concerns” with the Chinese government regarding what was described as an “unsafe and unprofessional” interaction with a destroyer from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy). This incident resulted in minor injuries to Australian divers, believed to be caused by exposure to sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer.

Sonar, used by military ships for detecting objects underwater, can potentially harm divers. High levels of underwater sound exposure can lead to issues like dizziness, hearing damage, or injuries to other sensitive organs, as per the London-based Diving Medical Advisory Committee.

The incident involved the HMAS Toowoomba, which was operating in Japan’s exclusive economic zone as part of United Nations sanctions enforcement, and was about to make a scheduled port visit to Japan.

Marles emphasized that Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries safely and professionally. He noted that Australia’s defense forces have been conducting maritime surveillance in the region in compliance with international law, maintaining the right to freedom of navigation.

Recently, the Chinese navy and air forces have faced accusations from the US and Canadian militaries of engaging in unsafe practices in the East and South China Seas.

For instance, the Canadian military reported this month that a Chinese warplane fired flares at its helicopter over the South China Sea on October 29, an action deemed reckless and potentially hazardous. China countered by accusing Canada of engaging in “malicious and provocative” actions in the area.

Ray Powell, from the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, commented on the ambiguity surrounding the source of the order to use sonar. It is unclear whether it came from higher-ups in Beijing or was a decision made by the Chinese destroyer captain. Powell, a former US Air Force officer, remarked that such an action, regardless of its origin, is concerning as it either indicates deceit at senior levels or a problematic military culture. He contrasted this with the likely consequences for an Australian naval commander in a similar scenario, suggesting that such behavior would not be tolerated by Australian authorities, yet no similar response is anticipated from Beijing.