China fires back over Australia’s ‘illegal’ South China Sea declaration

Australia’s declaration that territorial claims in the South China Sea are illegal branded a reckless ‘provocation’ as Chinese hit back.

Chinese warships and fighter jets take part in a military display in the South China Sea. Picture: Reuters

Chinese government mouthpiece The Global Times says Australia’s declaration that China’s territorial claims in the South China Seas are illegal is a reckless “provocation” that could be punished with trade sanctions against Australian beef and wine.

It says Australia’s statement to the United Nations is aimed at winning the support of the United States, but warns “Australia hasn‘t clearly thought about the consequences”.

“From China‘s perspective, it’s recklessly making provocations,” the paper says in an article by Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies professor Zhou Fangyin.

“The relationship between China and Australia has now deteriorated to a very bad point, and the chance for a turnaround is slim in the near future.”

The article, titled “Australia unwisely boards US leaky boat”, says the Morrison government’s decision is “not surprising”.

“One of the main reasons is that Australia‘s policy lacks independence, and its current choice is to closely follow the US lead,” the paper says.

“If Australia further provokes China, not only on political relations, but also economic relations, the damage to Australia should be expected.

“It should be said that so far, Australia has not learned a great lesson.

An aerial view of reefs in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

“If it still insists on going on the current path, the possibility that China will take strong countermeasures cannot be ruled out. For example, China could target substitutable agricultural products such as beef and wine.”

The threat follows Beijing‘s move to slap an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspend beef imports from four eastern states abattoirs after Australia led global calls for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus.

Australia dramatically raised the stakes in its worsening relationship with China late last week, formally declaring disputed Chinese claims in the South China Sea as having “no legal basis”.

In a statement filed at the United Nations in New York, Australia said it rejected China’s maritime claims around contested islands and features in the South China Sea as being inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and therefore “invalid”.

The diplomatic stoush comes just days ahead of high-level talks between Australia and the US in Washington, and follows the United States’ declaration earlier this month describing China‘s South China Sea claims “completely unlawful”.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will meet with Mr Pompeo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday night Australian time for this year’s AUSMIN talks.