The Australian government today said that it expressed serious concerns to China after an unsafe and unprofessional interaction between an Australian navy vessel and a Chinese warship in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It said the incident left Australian military divers injured.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the HMAS Toowoomba – a long-range frigate – was conducting a diving operation in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone on Tuesday to clear fishing nets from its propellers when the incident occurred. In his statement, he said while diving operations were underway a PLA-N destroyer (DDG-139) operating in the vicinity came closer and posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water. He said despite the Australian vessel notifying the Chinese warship of the diving operation, the destroyer approached at a closer range.