Key Points
- Anthony Albanese has reiterated his criticism of Chinese officials’ efforts to block journalist Cheng Lei at an event.
- The prime minister called the attempt “rude” and “entirely inappropriate”.
- The government has also criticised the actions of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.
The developments came as Chinese premier Li Qiang departed after a four-day Australian visit, jetting out to Malaysia.
Australian government ‘stands by the Philippines’
China’s coast guard said a Philippines vessel had dangerously approached a Chinese ship, forcing it to implement “warnings and blockades, boarding inspections and forced evictions”. The Philippines called China’s account “deceptive”.
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea as its own, opposing competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.
Philippine troops watch a Philippine Coast Guard ship on the disputed South China Sea. The Australian government has criticised China for “dangerous and illegal actions” by China’s vessels against Philippine vessels. Source: AAP / Aaron Favila/AP
“The Australian Government expresses its grave concern at, and stands by the Philippines in its response to, the dangerous and illegal actions by China’s vessels against Philippine vessels and crew taking part in a routine mission to Second Thomas Shoal, within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, on 17 June,” a statement issued by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said.
“This is an escalation in a pattern of deeply concerning and destabilising behaviour by China. This conduct endangers peace and security in the region, threatens lives and livelihoods, and creates risks of miscalculation and escalation.”
Prime minister says Chinese officials actions at press event ‘entirely inappropriate’
Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister told radio station 6PR that it was important to engage with China, and his government had stabilised the relationship but disagreements would be raised.
“It just drew attention to the fact that Cheng Lei was there. She’s a journalist in Australia. She has every right to have been there and to fully participate and she did.”
Chinese officials attempted to block cameras from filming Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei during an event at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Li capped off the four-day visit with a Perth stop-off to visit Fortescue and a lithium hydroxide plant.
As the Chinese premier was leaving Australia, a major delegation of federal government frontbenchers including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were travelling to Papua New Guinea.
Ministers from both countries will engage in formal talks before Penny Wong and Richard Marles fly to the remote Enga province in PNG where a deadly landslide has cut off tens of thousands of people.