August 6, 2022
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned Beijing’s launching of almost a dozen ballistic missiles near Taiwan as “disproportionate and destabilising”.
China’s live fire exercises near Taiwan followed the controversial visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island earlier this week.
Ms Wong said that she had expressed her concern to her Chinese counterpart at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia on Friday.
“Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan’s coastline,” Senator Wong, pictured, said in a statement.
“Australia shares the region’s concerns about this escalating military activity, especially the risks of miscalculation. We urge restraint and de-escalation,” she said.
It is in all our interests to have a region at peace and not in conflict.
“Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
”Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia was committed to maintaining the “status quo” towards China, but would defend its national interests and values.
Mr Albanese would not be drawn on commenting on Ms Pelosi’s visit, but said his Government wanted regional peace and security amid soaring tensions.
“Australia has said we want no change to the status quo, that’s also the position of the United States,” he said.
Liberal senator James Paterson also called for calm, while condemning China’s response to the trip
