Australian Border Force turns boat with nine Chinese nationals back into Indonesian waters

Nine Chinese citizens trying to reach Australia by boat have been pushed back into Indonesian waters by Australian Border Force.

Nine Chinese citizens trying to reach Australia by boat have been pushed back into Indonesian waters by Australian Border Force.

The group travelling with three Indonesian crew members were rescued by fishermen off the south coast of Java and later told local authorities they had been turned back after being held at sea by an Australian navy boat for five days, according to the Australian.

The Chinese nationals reportedly told Indonesian police their boat had become disabled and was drifting about 65kms off Java when they were rescued and returned to Pelabuhan Ratu on Saturday.

A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil declined to comment on the report.

“As is longstanding practice, we don’t confirm or comment on operational matters,” he said.

Australian Border Force reportedly turned back a boat into Indonesian waters on Saturday. Picture: Dylan Robinson

It is the fourth known attempt by groups of Chinese people trying to reach Australia by boat this year.

Previously in April a group of 10 Chinese nationals reached the mainland, and a group of six more travelling with six smugglers were intercepted by Indonesian authorities attempting to make it Australia.

Indonesian media reported in May two Chinese nationals almost made land near Darwin before they were put on a new boat and sent back to Indonesia.

Coalition home affairs spokesman says the attempted arrival is a mark against the government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has maintained the Coalition-era policy of not commenting on operational matters. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the latest attempted boat arrival was a test of Labor’s border policies.

“Our borders continue to be tested by people smugglers because of the Albanese Government’s weakness and incompetence,” he said.

“Labor must urgently restore maritime patrol days and aerial surveillance back to levels seen under the previous government and reintroduce temporary protection visas as a deterrent to these attempted arrivals.”

A group of asylum seekers turned up at a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia in February. Picture: Weekend Australian

In May three other boats arrived in Australian waters, including a group of four asylum seekers believed to be from Vietnam.

In another incident 33 suspected asylum seekers were discovered on Christmas Island after their boat was damaged in the bad weather.

One boat carrying five men believed to be from Senegal was found crossing illegally into Australia on a small boat in Far North Queensland.

In February a boat carrying 39 Pakistani and Bangladeshi men reached the north coast of Western Australia.

They were all transferred to immigration detention on the island of Nauru.