Key Points
- Anthony Albanese has reiterated his criticism of Chinese officials' efforts to block journalist Cheng Lei at an event.
- The prime minister called the attempt "rude" and "entirely inappropriate".
- The government has also criticised the actions of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hardened his criticism of Chinese efforts to block journalist Cheng Lei as "rude" and "entirely inappropriate".
At the same time, the federal government has released a statement strongly criticising .
The developments came as Chinese premier Li Qiang departed after a four-day Australian visit, jetting out to Malaysia.
Australian government 'stands by the Philippines'
On Monday, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of "ramming" its vessels during a routine operation in the South China Sea.
China and the Philippines accused each other of being responsible for the collision, near a disputed atoll.
The Philippines said Chinese vessels had rammed its own during a mission to resupply sailors stationed on a rusting warship.
China's coast guard said a Philippines vessel had dangerously approached a Chinese ship, forcing it to implement "warnings and blockades, boarding inspections and forced evictions". The Philippines called China's account "deceptive".
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea as its own, opposing competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.
Philippine troops watch a Philippine Coast Guard ship on the disputed South China Sea. The Australian government has criticised China for "dangerous and illegal actions" by China's vessels against Philippine vessels. Source: AAP / Aaron Favila/AP
"China's vessels engaged in dangerous manoeuvres and illegal conduct, including the ramming of Philippine vessels, resulting in injury to crew and damage to Philippine vessels.
"The Australian Government is deeply concerned by reports of the forcible boarding and towing of Philippine vessels and the seizure of equipment."
"This is an escalation in a pattern of deeply concerning and destabilising behaviour by China. This conduct endangers peace and security in the region, threatens lives and livelihoods, and creates risks of miscalculation and escalation."
Prime minister says Chinese officials actions at press event 'entirely inappropriate'
Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister told radio station 6PR that it was important to engage with China, and his government had stabilised the relationship but disagreements would be raised.
"We're a democracy, China is not. And I think that is just something that needs to be acknowledged and recognised," Albanese said.
The prime minister went on to make his strongest criticism so far of the treatment of journalist Cheng Lei — who was previously detained in China — during Li's visit.
Chinese Embassy officials had attempted to block cameras from filming her during a joint statement from the prime minister and Li at Parliament House on Monday.
"It was entirely inappropriate and it was rude what occurred, and frankly, just counterproductive from the Chinese side," Albanese said.
"It just drew attention to the fact that Cheng Lei was there. She's a journalist in Australia. She has every right to have been there and to fully participate and she did."
Chinese officials attempted to block cameras from filming Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei during an event at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Earlier in the trip, he announced new breeding pandas would be loaned to Adelaide Zoo, and visited a vineyard in South Australia.
As the Chinese premier was leaving Australia, a major delegation of federal government frontbenchers including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were travelling to Papua New Guinea.
Wong said the arrival of the ministerial delegation in Port Moresby was "a big deal".
"This is a very important relationship to Australia and we will continue to ensure we have, as the Minister said, a close and trusting relationship."
"This is a region where, as Prime Minister Marape pointed out when he spoke so beautifully to the Australian Parliament, we used to be one continent. We are family. That's why we’re here."
Ministers from both countries will engage in formal talks before Penny Wong and Richard Marles fly to the remote Enga province in PNG where a deadly landslide has cut off tens of thousands of people.
