Anthony Albanese’s blunt response to China over claims Australian plane was in the wrong

Anthony Albanese has delivered a blunt message to China, responding to threats from Beijing of “serious consequences” after a dangerous mid-air incident over the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flatly rejected Beijing’s claims Australia was threatening China’s “sovereignty and security” in the dangerous midair incident over the South China Sea, delivering a blunt message of his own.

On Sunday the Australian Government confirmed there had been a dangerous incident where a Chinese fighter jet released flares and chaff directly in front of an Australian p-8 aircraft which was conducting maritime surveillance over international waters.

After days of silence, China’s military spokesman Tan Kefei claimed the event took place over the Paracel Islands – a disputed area claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam – and insisted Australia’s actions were “seriously endangering the sovereignty and security” of China.

He further claimed that the Chinese J-16 fighter craft took reasonable actions and promised “serious consequences” for what it sees as further incursions into its waters, despite the area the Australia plane was in being considered international waters.

But Mr Albanese firmly rejected Beijing’s claims when asked about it them on Wednesday morning.

“This incident occurred in international airspace. Full stop,” he said from Darwin, having returned from his trade mission in Indonesia.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also commented over night on the incident, again putting the onus on Australia to fix the relationship between the two countries.

“The Australian side sought to confound black and white and repeatedly spread the false narrative which is aimed at inciting antagonism and confrontation,” Mr Zhao said.

“We urge the Australian side to immediately stop such dangerous and provocative acts and seriously dissuade its air and naval forces from such acts. Otherwise, any serious consequence arising therefrom shall be borne by the Australian side.”

It represents a ramping up of the rhetoric from the Chinese Communist Party, which had taken a softer tone for the first few days after the election of the Albanese Government.

Anthony Albanese in Darwin on Wednesday, June 8, after returning from Indonesia. Picture: Thomas Morgan

But it had taken no action to, or made suggestion it would, remove the punishing trade tariffs it placed on Australia or its demands the government agree to 14 points on contention – including muzzling the Australian press to changing the nation’s foreign relations laws.

China has placed punishing trade sanctions of $20 billion worth of Australian exports, including coal, wheat and time, as relations deteriorated as the CCP takes a much more assertive approach globally.

Mr Albanese, while on his trade mission, flagged the rapidly-growing economies of Indonesia and India would be vital in diversifying Australia’s economy from China.

He also suggested Australia could have closer defence ties with Indonesia and other southeast Asian nations as the region seeks to counterbalance China’s growing influence.