Personnel Safety an ‘Utmost Priority’: Minister Speaks on Chinese Sonar Incident

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reiterated the government’s concern after a Chinese warship used a sonar device near an Australian navy vessel injuring personnel. On Nov. 14, a Chinese destroyer approached an area where the Australian Navy’s HMAS Toowoomba was conducting a mission in international waters inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Despite warnings that Australian navy personnel were in the water, the Chinese destroyer turned on its hull-mounted sonar, forcing divers who were operating near the frigate to exit, suffering minor injuries. “The safety and wellbeing of Australian defence personnel is our utmost priority,” Senator Wong said at a joint press conference with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on Nov. 21....