Beijing is accused by Canberra of endangering the security of its sailors while they are working in international waters.

Following an incident off the coast of Japan, Australia’s military has accused Beijing of “unsafe and unprofessional conduct,” alleging that a Chinese warship generated deadly sonar waves near Australian divers despite repeated warnings.

The Australian government has expressed “serious concerns” to China on the earlier this week incident in Japan’s exclusive economic zone involving an Australian frigate and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) destroyer, according to a statement released by Canberra’s Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday.

Marles mentioned the frigate specifically when he stated, “A PLA-N destroyer operating in the vicinity closed towards HMAS Toowoomba while diving operations were underway.” Even though the Chinese warship acknowledged Toowoomba’s transmissions, it moved closer. It was soon discovered to be using its hull-mounted sonar in a way that endangered the safety of the Australian divers, forcing them to come to the surface.

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The defence chief continued by stating that an undisclosed number of divers had “sustained minor injuries,” and that it was most likely the result of their exposure to the Chinese destroyer’s sonar pulses.

The ship was reportedly involved in “Operation Argos,” which is the Australian navy’s attempt to implement international sanctions against North Korea.

Although Beijing has not yet responded to the accusations, it has previously brushed aside claims that foreign forces were acting dangerously.

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Canberra declared it a “serious safety incident” last year after accusing Chinese soldiers of pointing a powerful laser at one of its spy planes that was operating north of Australia. Later on, though, Australia’s charges were dismissed as “not true” by China’s Foreign Ministry, which maintained that the Chinese vessel was abiding by international law.

After another incident early in 2023, US officials claimed that an American aircraft had been buzzed by a Chinese military jet while it was over the South China Sea at a “unsafe” distance. Beijing, however, denied the claim as “pure slander and hype.” Rather, the US plane was accused of engaging in “dangerous manoeuvres,” according to China’s Defence Ministry.

Defence Ministry spokeswoman Tian Julin stated, “The US side purposefully misled the public, called black white, blamed [this] on China while [the US] itself is to be blamed and attempted to confuse international opinion.”

Beijing is accused by Canberra of endangering the security of its sailors while they are working in international waters.

Following an incident off the coast of Japan, Australia’s military has accused Beijing of “unsafe and unprofessional conduct,” alleging that a Chinese warship generated deadly sonar waves near Australian divers despite repeated warnings.

The Australian government has expressed “serious concerns” to China on the earlier this week incident in Japan’s exclusive economic zone involving an Australian frigate and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) destroyer, according to a statement released by Canberra’s Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday.

Marles mentioned the frigate specifically when he stated, “A PLA-N destroyer operating in the vicinity closed towards HMAS Toowoomba while diving operations were underway.” Even though the Chinese warship acknowledged Toowoomba’s transmissions, it moved closer. It was soon discovered to be using its hull-mounted sonar in a way that endangered the safety of the Australian divers, forcing them to come to the surface.

How and why China is courting a close ally of the United StatesREAD MORE: The reasons behind China’s successful courtship of a close US ally
The defence chief continued by stating that an undisclosed number of divers had “sustained minor injuries,” and that it was most likely the result of their exposure to the Chinese destroyer’s sonar pulses.

The ship was reportedly involved in “Operation Argos,” which is the Australian navy’s attempt to implement international sanctions against North Korea.

Although Beijing has not yet responded to the accusations, it has previously brushed aside claims that foreign forces were acting dangerously.

Canberra declared it a “serious safety incident” last year after accusing Chinese soldiers of pointing a powerful laser at one of its spy planes that was operating north of Australia. Later on, though, Australia’s charges were dismissed as “not true” by China’s Foreign Ministry, which maintained that the Chinese vessel was abiding by international law.

After another incident early in 2023, US officials claimed that an American aircraft had been buzzed by a Chinese military jet while it was over the South China Sea at a “unsafe” distance. Beijing, however, denied the claim as “pure slander and hype.” Rather, the US plane was accused of engaging in “dangerous manoeuvres,” according to China’s Defence Ministry.

Defence Ministry spokeswoman Tian Julin stated, “The US side purposefully misled the public, called black white, blamed [this] on China while [the US] itself is to be blamed and attempted to confuse international opinion.”