June 21st 2024.
Australia is sending one of their most advanced warships, HMAS Sydney, to the Pacific region for a four-month mission. This move is seen as a way to improve communication and defense strategies with China, following discussions between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Canberra.
The Australian Defence Department has announced that HMAS Sydney, a guided-missile destroyer of the Hobart class, will not only serve as a test for better communication between the two countries, but also enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea. This is a significant step, especially after a recent incident in the Yellow Sea where a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares on a Royal Australian Navy helicopter conducting the same UN mission.
The Australian government did not take this lightly and condemned the actions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army air force pilot, calling it reckless and unprofessional. In their discussions, Albanese also raised a similar incident from last year where Australian navy divers were injured due to a Chinese warship operating its sonar device near them in the water.
As Premier Li departed Australia, videos and photos of clashes between Chinese coastguard personnel and Filipino navy personnel in the South China Sea emerged. The confrontation, which occurred on Monday, resulted in damages to two Filipino ships and injuries to their sailors. This was an attempt to disrupt a resupply mission to a territorial outpost on a grounded ship, BRP Sierra Madre, at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
The Australian government expressed grave concern over these actions by China, calling it a pattern of deeply concerning and destabilizing behavior. They stated that it endangers peace and security in the region, and creates risks of miscalculation and escalation. It is clear that tensions between Australia and China are high, and this deployment of HMAS Sydney is seen as a necessary step to ensure the safety and security of the region.
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