South China Sea conflict: Beijing criticizes presence of Australian military planes over waters

Tensions remain over the widely contested South China Sea, with China attempting to assert control over the majority of the waters. Beijing recently criticized the presence of Australian military planes over the waters it claims to have control over, saying the planes undermine security and sovereignty.

China’s defense ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said the military identified the presence of Australian military aircraft over the South China Sea and warned the aircraft to leave. This comes days after Australia said China’s fighter aircraft intercepted one of its military surveillance planes in the region.

Tan said Tuesday that Australian aircraft was threatening China’s sovereignty and security over the waters and that the Chinese military would issue a lawful and appropriate response. Tan added that Beijing opposes Australian military actions in the region.

The Australian defense ministry Sunday issued a statement reporting a Chinese fighter jet “dangerously intercepted” an Australian military surveillance plane in the waters on May 26.

The Royal Australian Air Force P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese plane during a “routine maritime surveillance activity” in international airspace over the South China Sea.

The clash with Australia also came days after the Canadian military accused Chinese military planes of harassing its pilots during UN patrols along the border with North Korea as it monitored possible sanctions evasions.

This is the latest strain in relations between Australia and China, especially as Beijing is seeking a security deal with Pacific Island nations.

Back in February, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison accused Beijing of shining a laser at one of Australia’s surveillance planes, describing the incident as an “act of intimidation,” which Australia has also described as “dangerous and reckless.”

An international tribunal back in 2016 ruled that China’s so-called “historic” claims over the majority of the body of water have no basis under international law, which Beijing has ignored. China also drew the ire of the surrounding nations who have overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea.

The US State Department also issued a report back in January finding that Beijing’s claims over the body of water “gravely undermine the rule of law” in the oceans as well as the universally-recognized provisions of international law.

The report cited the lack of evidence to justify China’s claim to most of the sea. China only cites the “nine-dash line” to assert its sovereignty over the waters.