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Coalition spokesman for home affairs James Paterson says there is no evidence to support China’s claims that Australia was acting provocatively when conducting a military operation in the Yellow Sea.
This week, China and Australia have blamed each other after a Chinese fighter jet set off flares near an Australian navy helicopter on Saturday night, forcing the helicopter pilot to take evasive action.
China’s Defence Ministry claimed yesterday the Australian military acted provocatively by conducting short-range reconnaissance of its military assets.
Shadow home affairs spokesperson James Paterson.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Speaking on Sky News this morning, Paterson said Australia needs to stand up for itself.
“There’s no evidence to support the Chinese government’s claims and no reason for us to disagree with Australian Defence Force’s statements about this, which is we were in international waters,” he said.
“Even if we were in, hypothetically, China’s exclusive economic zone, this would still be an utterly unacceptable intimidatory and coercive thing to do, and we would never accept it.
“So it’s totally inappropriate behaviour, but it’s a pattern of behaviour being repeated, and they are testing Australia, and it’s critical that we show restraint, resolve and strength in return and not weakness and ambivalence.”
Paterson criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong for not bringing up this incident with their Chinese counterpart.
“That sends a very bad signal about our resolve and our strength and our willingness to stand up for ourselves,” he said.
