Australia's navy chief confronts Chinese counterpart over 'unsafe' sonar attack against HMAS Toowoomba

→ Оригинал (без защиты от корпорастов)

The chief of navy has used a rare face-to-face meeting with his counterpart in China to warn against continuing unsafe behaviour by the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) in contested international waters near Australia.

During an international naval conference held last week in the Chinese port city of Qingdao, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond also directly raised concerns with PLA-N Chief Admiral Hu Zhongming over last year's sonar attack on HMAS Toowoomba.

In November, Australian navy divers sustained minor injuries after being subjected to sonar pulses from a nearby Chinese warship while operating in the South China Sea to support a United Nations mission.

Australian Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (centre left) raised concerns with Chinese Chief Admiral Hu Zhongming last week.(US Navy)

This year's Western Pacific Naval Symposium was hosted by China under the theme "Seas of Shared Future" and took place as maritime tensions rise in the region, particularly around the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Over the past few years, Australian military leaders have been cut off from direct dialogue with their Chinese counterparts after diplomatic relations soured between both nations during the Morrison government.

Following the four-day naval talks, Vice Admiral Hammond confirmed to the ABC he had held separate talks with Admiral Hu where he urged the senior Chinese military figure to "prioritise safety".

HMAS Toowoomba was subjected to sonar pulses from a nearby Chinese warship while operating in the South China Sea on a UN mission last November.(Department of Defence)

"I met with a number of chiefs of navy and heads of delegation whilst in Qingdao, including Admiral Hu," Admiral Hammond told the ABC in a statement.

"The symposium was an opportunity to meet with chiefs of navy from all over the world, particularly the Western Pacific naval leaders and discuss important maritime security matters, including the importance of upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

During his talks with his Chinese counterpart, Australia's navy chief reiterated the importance of safe and professional behaviour when militaries interact, and the need to address issues through clear and candid communication.

"I raised with Admiral Hu the 2023 Toowoomba incident and emphasised the importance of safe and professional behaviour when our ships interact."

"I sought his concurrence to prioritise the safety of our respective navy personnel and to prevent a reoccurrence of this incident."

China's defence ministry confirmed that senior military officials also held separate meetings with US and Russian naval counterparts during the symposium.

Spokesperson Wu Qian told a media briefing that Admiral Hu and political commissar Yuan Huazhi had a "deep exchange of views" with US Pacific Fleet chief Admiral Stephen Koehler and Russia's naval commander Admiral Alexander Moiseyev.

While in Qingdao, Admiral Hammond also met with the chiefs of navies from France, Cambodia, Chile, Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea, as well as the US Pacific Fleet commander.

In 2022, Australia tore up invitations for Russia and China to attend an international naval conference in Sydney, which the PLA-N had regularly attended along with dozens of other nations.