Marise Payne condemns Beijing's actions in the South China Sea

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has condemned China's recent actions in the South China Sea, including the reported sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat, saying it was vital all countries ease tensions so they can focus on combating COVID-19.

An Australian warship has been conducting exercises in the disputed waterway with three US ships in recent days, as anxiety increases about China's expansion in the region while the world is dealing with the coronavirus.

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier is accompanied by navy frigates and submarines conducting exercises in the South China Sea in 2018.Credit: Xinhua

In her first comments on China's latest moves in the disputed waterway, Senator Payne said Australia was concerned about "a number of recent incidents and actions" in the South China Sea.

She said this included "reported efforts to disrupt other countries' resource development activities, the declaration of new 'administrative districts' over disputed features, and the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat, reportedly in a collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel".

While not directly laying the blame on Beijing and insisting Australia did not take sides in the disputes, Senator Payne said Australia had a "strong interest in the stability of this crucial waterway and the norms and laws that govern it".

"Australia urges all states to adhere to international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight," she said.

"It is vital at this time that all parties refrain from destabilising activities and work to ease tensions so the international community can devote full attention to responding cooperatively to the COVID-19 pandemic."

Australian Strategic Policy Institute defence program director Michael Shoebridge said Senator Payne's comments showed Beijing that it was "not the only state that can handle the pandemic and assert its strategic interests".

"The fact that Beijing sees the middle of a global pandemic as an opportunity to exert further unilateral control of areas disputed by others disturbingly exposes the Chinese state's aggressive, expansionist character," Mr Shoebridge said.

On Sunday, Vietnam raised concerns over China's claims to have established two administrative districts on the Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

The move came after Hanoi protested against what it said was the ramming and sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coastguard vessel off the Paracel Islands in the disputed waters.

Last week, a Chinese government survey ship began following a Malaysian drill ship conducting exploration activities off the Malaysian coast.

China denied any reports of a confrontation, saying its survey ship, called the Haiyang Dizhi 8, was conducting normal activities in the area.

The same Chinese survey ship has previously tracked oil operations off the Vietnamese coast.

Over the past few days, the Australian frigate HMAS Parramatta has been undertaking exercises with US ships America, Barry and Bunker Hill as they pass through the waters.

The two US ships entered contested waters off Malaysia. China, Vietnam and Malaysia all claim rights to the natural resources in this part of the contested waterway.