By: Isabella Arbizo
Staff Writer
Australia is demanding China investigate the alleged use of a laser to “illuminate” an Australian jet in waters off the country’s north coast in an incident that threatens to worsen relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday he’d called on the Chinese government to explain the “dangerous” and “reckless” act allegedly carried out by a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship last week. “This was dangerous, it was unprofessional and it was reckless for a professional navy, and we want some answers as to why they did this,” Morrison said. “At worst, it was intimidating and bullying.” “They’re the ones who need to explain, not just to Australia, but to think of all the countries in our region,” he added. “It could occur to anyone else who is just simply doing the normal surveillance of their own Exclusive Economic Zone,” Morrison said Monday Chinese authorities had not yet responded to his call for answers. At a regular briefing in Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters the ship was abiding by international law. “After checking with relevant Chinese authorities, the information released by the Australian side is not true. The normal navigation of the Chinese ship on the high seas conforms to relevant international law and practice and is completely legitimate and lawful,” Wang said. “We urge the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese vessels in relevant waters in accordance with international law and stop maliciously spreading false information about China.” Earlier, state-run tabloid the Global Times accused Canberra of trying to damage Beijing’s reputation in the South Pacific. “The Australian military knowingly hyped this with the aim of throwing mud at China,” the article said, citing an anonymous analyst. The paper accused Canberra of trying to draw attention away from the Chinese military’s aid efforts in the South Pacific, citing the recent delivery of aid to Tonga in the wake of a large volcanic eruption and tsunami and the shipping of Covid medical supplies to the Solomon Islands. “Australia does not like China providing concrete benefits to other countries near Australia, so it is finding all ways to discredit China,” the story said, citing unnamed analysts.