Australia protests China\u2019s \u2018destabilising\u2019 missile test<\/p>\n
MANILA: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Wednesday (Jul\n22) she raised concern over Beijing\u2019s test of a nuclear-capable missile\nin the South Pacific, calling the launch \u201cdestabilising\u201d in a meeting\nwith her Chinese counterpart in Manila.<\/p>\n
The remarks came a day after the envoy slammed China\u2019s \u201cdangerous\nconduct\u201d following a clash between Philippine and Chinese sailors at a\ndisputed shoal in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
A Chinese submarine fired the ballistic missile fitted with a dummy\nwarhead earlier this month, reaching far into the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made clear publicly and directly to China that we regard the\nmissile test as destabilising and we \u2026 put that directly to Foreign\nMinister Wang Yi in my discussions (with him) yesterday,\u201d she told\nreporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian ministers in\nthe Philippines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want a region which is peaceful, stable and prosperous. We want a\nregion where countries, all powers, including great powers, observe\ninternational law and, in particular, the law of the sea,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Australia has previously said it did not receive sufficient notice of\nthe missile test and a dozen Pacific Island countries have denounced it\nfor violating the region\u2019s wish to remain free of nuclear weapons\ntesting.<\/p>\n
Monitors have said the rocket appeared to land in a patch of ocean\nsomewhere between the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.<\/p>\n
Asked about Monday\u2019s incident at Second Thomas Shoal, in which a\nPhilippine sailor was allegedly struck on the head with a baton, Wong\nreiterated that Australia had \u201creal concerns about behaviour that is\ndestabilising and risky\u201d.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, during a visit to a Philippine coast guard vessel, Wong\nannounced the donation of \u201c413 million pesos (US$6.7 million) worth of\ncutting-edge drone technology and operator training to the Philippine\nCoast Guard\u201d.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-protests-chinas-destabilising-missile-test-1784703025", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }