China takes a swipe at Australia
China has criticised Australia’s latest military move amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
National
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China has taken a veiled swipe at Australia saying it will not allow itself to be “abused” by countries looking to flex their “gunboat muscles” in the seas about their nation.
China’s second highest ranked military official General Zhang Youxia has told an international naval symposium that any scramble for maritime resources would bring disaster for humanity.
The vice chairman of the Central Military Commission told the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in the port city of Qingdao, disputes should be resolved with dialogue not force.
“Reality has shown that those who make deliberate provocations, stoke tensions, or support one side against another for selfish gains will ultimately only hurt themselves,” he told the room of foreign delegations including one from Australia.
The words were seen as a reference to both AUKUS and escalating tensions over the South China Sea where Australia has signed up with the US and Japan to sail with the Philippines in its bid to patrol its internationally recognised territorial waters.
The conference also comes as Australia on Monday joined US and Filipino forces for a huge maritime exercise being conducted for the first time outside Philippine territorial waters.
During joint exercises, troops will simulate retaking enemy-occupied islands in the northernmost islands of the country close to Taiwan, and in western Palawan province facing the South China Sea.
The ADF’s involvement in the annual Balikatan or “shoulder-to-shoulder” three-week drill, is part of Australia’s Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program with the Philippines.
China has laid claim to almost all of the body of water, almost to the shoreline of countries including the Philippines, through which most of Australia’s maritime trade passes through. There have also been tensions over the Taiwan Straits.
Gen. Zhang told the assembled civilian and defence officials that “carrying out maritime containment, encirclement and island blockades will only plunge the world into a vortex of division and turbulence”.
The symposium is a rare opportunity for countries with opposing regional interests to exchange views. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler is attending from the United States. Other delegations include Australia, France, India, Russia and Britain.
Gen. Zhang has previously said China would show “no mercy” to any nation that attempted to separate Taiwan from China.
“We do not provoke trouble, but we will never flinch in face of provocation. The Chinese military will resolutely defend the reunification and interest of the motherland,” he said Monday.
China’s military build-up has added to regional concerns not least of which is its semi-permanent basing of two warships at a naval base it is building in Cambodia at the Ream base once funded and visited regularly by the navies of the US and Australia.
Satellite images taken on the weekend have been tracking the progress of the development of the base including new wharves, dry docks and barracks.
“This is a very good opportunity to hold bilateral talks with each navy – not only on AUKUS, but on broader maritime topics,” said Captain Takuo Kobayashi, a senior official with the Japanese naval delegation, said at the symposium.
“The Chinese Navy are building up their muscles in the South China Sea quickly, so I’m paying a lot of attention to the Chinese Navy’s developments.”
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