Australia Accuses China Navy of Employing Sonar Pulses on Divers

Australia has accused the Chinese navy of using sonar pulses in an incident that took place in international waters. The incident resulted in Australian divers sustaining injuries. The Australian defense minister stated that a Chinese warship's actions during the encounter off Japan were "unsafe and unprofessional". The warship approached an Australian frigate while divers were clearing fishing nets from its propellers. The minister added that the Chinese ship emitted hazardous sonar pulses, which posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who had to exit the water. The divers suffered minor injuries likely caused by the sonar. The defense minister emphasized that Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner. The Australian frigate had communicated its intention to conduct diving operations through normal maritime channels and internationally recognized signals. The incident occurred in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, and HMAS Toowoomba was conducting operations in support of UN sanctions enforcement. While tensions remain between Australia and China, especially regarding security, earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a breakthrough trip to China and expressed optimism about progress in relations between the two countries.