Australia and Britain didn't mince words in their criticism of China on Friday, addressing concerns over its activities in Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and its backing of Russia during a
meeting where London and Canberra reinforced their security collaboration.
The joint statement issued after talks between Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, and their Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles in Adelaide contained unusually direct language regarding Beijing's conduct.
Specifically, the two nations called out China's "recent unsafe and destabilizing behavior by its vessels against Philippine vessels and crew near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea." This statement underscored their unease with China's actions in the region.
Earlier this month, Australia, in a joint statement with Southeast Asian nations, urged restraint in the South China Sea without naming China explicitly. China asserts nearly all of the South China Sea as its own, cautioning neighboring countries against infringing on its territorial sovereignty as tensions rise in certain atolls within the economically significant waterway.
Furthermore, the ministers expressed concern about Hong Kong's new security law and the erosion of freedoms and rights in the territory, a former British colony, along with human rights violations in China at large.
In response to recent criticisms, China has defended its actions, emphasizing its opposition to external interference in Hong Kong's affairs.
Australia and Britain also strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and called upon all nations with close ties to Russia, particularly China, to refrain from aiding Russia's continuation of the conflict and to work towards its resolution.
Additionally, the statement warned of the potential dire consequences of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in Gaza, expressing deep concern for the civilian population in the area given the large number of displaced persons and lack of safe spaces.
Australia and Britain recently inked a new defense and security agreement, facilitating joint military operations between their forces in each other's territories. This agreement aligns with Australia's plans to invest significantly in infrastructure for nuclear-powered submarines, a project stemming from the AUKUS security pact established with Britain and the United States in 2021. Photo by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wikimedia commons.