The recent operations of the Chinese naval fleet in international waters near Australia fully comply with international law, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.
Senior Colonel Wu Qian made the remark at a regular news conference in Beijing, responding to what he earlier called Australia's groundless accusations and deliberate hype regarding the operations of the People's Liberation Army.
According to media reports, a Chinese frigate, destroyer and supply vessel have recently been operating in international waters approximately 150 nautical miles off Australia's coast, conducting exercises. Australia has accused China of lacking transparency, and the Australian air traffic control agency has issued reminders, leading some airlines to adjust their flight plans.
However, both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged that China acted in accordance with international law, according to a Reuters report.
"We have also noted that both Australia and New Zealand have repeatedly stated that China's actions are entirely in accordance with international law. I believe that such statements themselves are very telling," Wu said.
In his first response on Sunday to Australia's accusations, Wu said that China was "deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied".
"The Australian side's remarks are completely inconsistent with the facts," Wu said. "The Chinese naval fleet conducted exercises within international waters far from the Australian coastline. During this period, China repeatedly issued safety notices in advance and organized live-fire naval gun training at sea."
Wu called on Australia to view bilateral and military relations with China "objectively and rationally, as well as with more sincerity and professionalism, and take concrete actions to contribute to the stable development" of bilateral ties.
Zhang Junshe, a former researcher at the PLA's Naval Research Academy, said that Australia's reaction indicated unease over China's naval exercises in international waters. He said that Australia's response hyped up the so-called "China threat theory", which aims to deter the Chinese navy from venturing into the open seas.
"The United States and its allies, including Australia, have been conducting joint military exercises in the South China Sea and East China Sea for many years, with a large number of forces and high intensity," Zhang said.
Emphasizing that the nature of the Chinese naval fleet's navigation in international waters is entirely different from an intrusion of Australian military aircraft into China's airspace over the Xisha Islands, Zhang said: "According to international law, a military aircraft of one country has no right to fly over the airspace of another country without permission. Such actions must be approved or consented to by the country concerned."
Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun accused an Australian military aircraft of deliberately intruding on Feb 11 into China's airspace over the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, infringing on China's sovereignty and endangering national security.
China's actions to expel the Australian aircraft were justified, lawful, professional and restrained, Guo said at a daily news conference on Feb 13, adding that China has lodged solemn representations with Australia, demanding that it stop its infringement and provocations and cease undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Zhang also noted that the US and its allies, including Australia, routinely engage in such military operations while criticizing China's normal training activities.