Australian Navy divers injured after ‘unsafe’ conduct of Chinese destroyer: Marles

Australian Navy divers have been injured after a Chinese destroyer operated its sonar device nearby when they were in the water, the Defence Minister has said.

In a statement, Richard Marles lashed the “unsafe and unprofessional conduct” of the Chinese vessel.

The divers were clearing fishing nets which had become entangled around the propellers of the HMAS Toowoomba in international waters near Japan.

A destroyer from the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) approached despite the HMAS Toowoomba announcing that divers were in the water.

“Despite acknowledging Toowoomba’s communications, the Chinese vessel approached at a closer range,” Marles said.

“Soon after, it was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in a manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water.

“When the Australian Navy divers surfaced, they reported minor injuries “likely due to being subjected to the sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer”.

“Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner,” Marles said.

“Defence has for decades undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.”Marles said the HMAS Toowoomba was within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone en route to a port visit.

The acting prime minister, Richard Marles, on Saturday said the Australian government had expressed “serious concerns” to Chinese officials after the HMAS Toowoomba encountered a People’s Liberation Army-Navy destroyer on Tuesday.

The Toowoomba was in international waters in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, having worked to enforce United Nations sanctions, and was on its way to a scheduled port visit when fishing nets became entangled around its propellers.

The ship stopped so naval divers could clear the nets and its crew communicated what it was doing through the usual maritime channels, Marles said in a statement.

While the diving operation took place, the Chinese PLA-N destroyer DDG-139 came towards the Toowoomba, prompting its crew to reiterate a dive was under way and ask for the warship to stay clear.

The Chinese vessel acknowledged the message but came even closer, and was soon after detected operating its hull-mounted sonar, posing a risk to the Australian divers’ safety, Marles said.

With Thanks Reference to: https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-navy-hmas-toowoomba-chinese-destroyer-sonar-injuries-china-news/480b02f8-cab2-4340-a908-247050a816a1