South China Sea: Australian warships encounter Chinese navy in disputed waters
Canberra downplays the ‘unplanned interactions’ amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between two countries
Published on Thu 23 Jul 2020 00.44 EDT
Australian warships have encountered China’s navy in the disputed South China Sea at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The Australian government has played down the encounter – believed to have occurred last week – saying on Thursday that “all interactions with foreign warships throughout the deployment were conducted in a safe and professional mannerâ€.
The ABC first reported that Australian warships had encountered the Chinese navy during a voyage that included travel close to the Spratly Islands, although it was believed the Australian ships did not go within 12 nautical miles of the contested islands.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/south-china-sea-australian-warships-encounter-chinese-navy-in-disputed-waters
