Australia aircraft had ‘right’ to watch China navy vessel in its waters, Morrison says
- A patrol plane, which China accused of coming too close to its navy vessel, had the right to ‘keep a close eye’ on threats in Australian waters, PM Morrison said
- His comments on Tuesday came after China’s defence ministry said the Australian plane had dropped a sonobuoy near the Chinese ships and had flown as close as 4km from the convoy
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said an Australian surveillance aircraft was doing its job when it was “put under threat” with a laser from a Chinese navy ship, rejecting Beijing’s assertion the plane came too close.
The P-8A Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft, detected a laser emanating from a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel last Thursday, and Australia released photographs of two Chinese vessels sailing close to its north coast.
“Our surveillance planes have every right to be in our exclusive economic zone and keeping a close eye on what people are up to,” Morrison told reporters on Tuesday. “The fact they were put under threat is extremely disappointing.”
The Chinese guided missile destroyer and an amphibious transport dock were sailing east through the Arafura Sea between New Guinea and Australia, and later passed through the narrow Torres Strait, Australia’s defence department says.
Beijing says the Chinese ships had a legal right to be in international waters, which Australia has not disputed.
Australia’s defence department said the aircraft was 7.7km from the Chinese naval vessel at the time of the lasing incident, and the closest it flew was 3.9km, which it said was standard for a visual inspection of a vessel.
Morrison said the surveillance plane’s crew “were doing their job”, and repeated his demand for an explanation from Beijing.