…
Patricia Karvelas: Just on a couple of other issues briefly. China’s national Defence spokesman has accused Australia of spying, and that Australia was acting provocatively.
You’ve been criticised, your government has been criticised, the Prime Minister has been criticised for being too weak in your language in relation to China for referring to it as “unprofessional conduct”. Have you been too weak in denouncing this dangerous action from China?
Foreign Minister: Well, first, can I say very clearly that we stand by what we have said, and by what the Australian Defence Force has indicated occurred in relation to this incident.
The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have been clear about the unacceptable and unsafe conduct that took place while Australian Forces were contributing to the enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. And we stand by the assessment of the Chief of the Defence Force that the ADF were behaving professionally and appropriately.
But I want to make two points; first, I have been clear in my meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Minister Liu and Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Australia would continue to operate in international air space and international waters, and that we would continue to call out, including publicly, where we believe the conduct did not meet the standards that were necessary.
I know that Peter Dutton has always wanted to talk tough rather than being tough. I would make the point that this government has been consistent in what I have said, that is, we have continued to operate in international air space and international waters, in accordance with International Law, and in fact for the first time had joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea with the Philippines, Japan and the United States, something which never occurred under Peter Dutton.
###
Source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Speaker: Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Format: Interview
China Policy Research 