Fed: Navy warships provoke formal complaint from China

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2001
Fed: Navy warships provoke formal complaint from China

A stand-off between a Chinese ship and three Royal Australian Navy warships in the
Taiwan Strait has renewed pressure on the relationship between Australia and China.

The three ships are believed to have been en route from Korea to Hong Kong earlier
this month when they were questioned for being in Chinese territorial waters.

China has lodged an official protest over the incident, but Australia maintains the
ships had a right to pass through the Chinese territorial waters under international laws.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has dismissed suggestions Australia had been provocative
in allowing the flotilla to pass through the area at a time of cool relations with the
Chinese.

Last week, Mr HOWARD drew a rebuke from the Chinese embassy by backing US President
GEORGE W BUSH'S position on Taiwan.

But the prime minister says there is no long-term damage to bilateral relations, and
in the latest incident, the RAN ships had acted entirely in accordance with international
law.

China has long argued that warships should ask for its permission to enter territorial waters.

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says he's confident the Australian ships followed
correct procedure and denies the incident is a problem for diplomatic relations between
the two countries.

AAP RTV kmh/pc/mjm

KEYWORD: CHINA AUST (CANBERRA)

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