Australia's Wong warns China after Chinese warship used sonal pulses to keep Australian divers off Japan coast

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, delivered a formal warning to Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao in Canberra on Wednesday, addressing a recent incident where a Chinese warship used sonar pulses to target Australian navy divers off the coast of Japan. Despite China denying involvement, Senator Wong expressed serious concerns during the meeting, emphasizing the need for dialogue to navigate differences. In a statement, Senator Wong’s spokesperson highlighted her commitment to engaging with senior Chinese officials, aiming for diplomatic resolution. Senator Wong, in a post on X, described her discussion with Liu as “frank,” covering bilateral relations, consular matters, and the significance of international law, rules, and norms for regional peace and security. The warning follows contradictory statements from Liu, who suggested the incident occurred in disputed waters between China and Japan, contrary to Canberra’s confirmation that it happened within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. During a separate meeting, Opposition leader Peter Dutton and foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham reprimanded Liu, emphasizing Australia’s concern and urging China to respect international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not publicly disclose whether he raised the incident with President Xi Jinping at the recent APEC summit in San Francisco, he asserted in Question Time that the event was “unsafe and unprofessional.” Australia remains committed to conveying its concerns through appropriate channels to uphold peace and stability in the region.