SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said an Australian surveillance plane 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.
Australia's department of defence said on Tuesday that the aircraft dropped sonobuoys after the lasing incident, and that the surveillance devices aren't a shipping hazard.
"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," he added.
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.
China's defence ministry on Monday said the surveillance plane had dropped a sonobuoy, which can help detect submarines, near the Chinese ships, and had flown as close as 4km (2.5 miles) from the convoy, which it said was "provocative and dangerous".
Australia's department of defence on Tuesday said that the aircraft had acted in a safe manner and that the use of sonobuoys for maritime surveillance is common practice.
"No sonobuoys were used prior to the PLA-N vessel directing its laser at the P-8A aircraft on 17 February. Some sonobuoys were used after the incident but were dropped in the water a significant distance ahead of the PLA-N vessel," it said.
The devices "collect passive acoustic data" on ships and submarines, it said.
The aircraft was 7.7km from the Chinese naval vessel at the time of the lasing incident, it said, and the closest it flew was 3.9km, which Australia said was standard for a visual inspection of a vessel.
"Australia expects all foreign vessels entering its maritime zones to abide by international law, particularly the UNCLOS," the statement said, referring to the United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Sea.
On Tuesday, Morrison announced separately Australia would spend A$804 million ($578 million) to buy drones and helicopters and set up mobile stations in Antarctica, because Australia needed to "keep watch" on the region.
He said that China did not share Australia's objectives in Antarctica, 42% of which is claimed by Australia, and that Beijing wanted to exploit its resources.
"We need to keep eyes in Antarctica because there are others who have different objectives to us," he said.
Reuters
Tue Feb 22 2022
Scott Morrison said an Australian surveillance plane was doing its job when it was "put under threat" with a laser from a Chinese navy ship. - REUTERS photo
Terima anugerah Reader's Digest buat kali kelima, Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah kepada Kemas
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mengucapkan tahniah kepada Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (Kemas) yang meraih Anugerah Jenama Paling Dipercayai buat kali kelima bagi kategori Pu
AIM menang Anugerah Industri Kewangan Islam Global
AIM memenangi anugerah Islamic Finance News apabila dinobat IFN Best Islamic Microfinance Institution, serta menerima dua anugerah di bawah Global Good Governance Awards (3G).
Keprihatinan Allahyarham Khalid Ali terhadap pasukan negara hingga hujung nyawa
Keprihatinan dan cinta legenda bola sepak negara Allahyarham Khalid Ali terhadap pasukan negara dibuktikan apabila masih membicarakan tentang perkara itu pada hujung hayatnya.
Ancaman bom palsu cetus panik di 100 sekolah di India
Ancaman bom palsu telah mencetuskan panik di sekolah di ibu negara India pada pagi Rabu dengan ibu bapa bergegas membawa pulang anak-anak mereka.
Pulau Pinang akan bincang, teliti kenaikan gaji penjawat awam negeri - Chow
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan membincangkan mengenai kenaikan gaji penjawat awam di negeri itu pada Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri akan datang, menurut Ketua Menteri Chow Kon Yeow.
Lawatan kerja PM bina keyakinan bagi syarikat Malaysia terlibat dalam projek besar di Arab Saudi
Kejayaan lawatan kerja Anwar ke Riyadh, Arab Saudi, baru-baru ini, membina keyakinan untuk syarikat Malaysia diberi peluang terlibat dalam projek-projek besar di negara tersebut.
Kerajaan tidak pinggirkan kaum India, laksana pelbagai inisiatif - PM Anwar
Kerajaan MADANI tidak pernah meminggirkan kaum India malah pelbagai inisiatif telah dilaksanakan bagi memperkasa komuniti berkenaan, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
AWANI Ringkas: Kebakaran | Kenaikan gaji penjawat awam
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Tonight: Rallies across Asia, M'sia to call for greater labour rights
Some 1,500 workers in Malaysia marched through Dataran Merdeka to demand greater workers' rights, while workers and activists across Asia took to the streets in their respective capitals to mark Labour Day.
Lihat TVET, AI dan digital sebagai ekonomi baharu negara – PM Anwar
Dalam memastikan ekonomi negara terus ke hadapan, masyarakat digesa untuk tidak lagi terperangkap dalam stigma lama, atau mudah terpengaruh dengan hasutan-hasutan pihak tertentu.
Lai Ching-te dari DPP menang Pilihan Raya Taiwan
Lai berdepan saingan tiga penjuru dengan Hou Yu-ih dari Kuomintang (KMT) dan Ko Wen-je dari Parti Rakyat Taiwan.
Pilihan Raya Taiwan: Rakyat mula jalankan tanggungjawab masing-masing
Pilihan raya tersebut menyusul ketika Beijing meningkatkan tekanan untuk mendapatkan pulau itu menerima kedaulatannya.
Beijing alami lebih banyak salji, gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda
Kawasan perbandaran Beijing mengalami lebih banyak salji pada Khamis dengan gelombang sejuk dijangka melanda ibu negara China itu pada Jumaat.
33 maut hujan paling lebat landa Beijing
Sekurang-kurangnya lima pekerja bantuan adalah antara mangsa yang maut. 18 orang lagi mangsa masih hilang.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Blinken tiba di China bagi kendurkan ketegangan
Beberapa siri pertemuan dengan wakil kerajaan berpangkat tinggi dirancang sebelum Blinken berlepas pada Isnin.
Gelombang panas landa beijing, suhu cecah 39 darjah Celsius
Bandar raya Beijing mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan suhu tinggi diramal mencecah 39 darjah Celsius pada Jumaat, menurut pihak berkuasa cuaca tempatan.
Diplomat kanan China, AS bincang tingkatkan hubungan dua hala
Perbincangan itu diadakan di Beijing pada 5 Jun, lapor Sputnik yang memetik Kementerian Luar China pada Selasa.
Presiden Xi mahu Beijing terajui bidang sains dan teknologi
China komited meneruskan strategi keterbukaan serta sedia berganding tangan dengan semua untuk mempromosi inovasi sains dan teknologi.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.