'Unsafe': Richard Marles criticises Chinese warship crew after Australian officers injured

Richard Marles has explained how Australian naval officers were left injured during an "unprofessional" run in with a Chinese warship.

The Australian Navy encountered a Chinese warship on Tuesday while enforcing United Nations sanctions. Source: AAP / Van Khoa

Key Points

• The Australian government has condemned actions by a Chinese warship.
• Richard Marles said naval officers were subjected to "unsafe" practices when they dove in the international waters.
• The HMAS Toowoomba encountered the People's Liberation Army-Navy Destroyer on Tuesday.

Acting prime minister Richard Marles has condemned the actions of a Chinese warship after its crew subjected Australian naval divers to harmful sonar pulses.

Australian naval divers have been injured after an "unsafe and unprofessional" run-in with a Chinese warship.

Marles 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.

Acting prime minister Richard Marles has confirmed that Australian crew were subjected to harmful sonar pulses. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

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

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 underway and ask for the warship to stay clear.

Marles said 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.

The divers, who were assessed after they surfaced, sustained minor injuries likely because they were subjected to the sonar pulses.

"This is unsafe and unprofessional conduct," Marles said.

"The safety and wellbeing of our (Australian Defence Force) personnel continues to be our utmost priority.

"Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner."

There has been a thawing of relations between Australia and China since Labor took office in 2022. Source: Getty / Yan Yan/Xinhua

The defence force has for decades undertaken surveillance in the region and does so in accordance with international law, Mr Marles said.

The incident comes as relations stabilise between Australia and China following recent meetings between Anthony Albanese and Xi Jinping and China's easing of punitive trade sanctions on Australian exports.