Peter Dutton says Mark McGowan politicising China tensions during election as Chinese spy vessel hugs WA coast

Peter Dutton has stood by his Government’s commentary around China as a Chinese military spy ship tracks closer to WA’s coast then ever before, with the Defence Minister saying Mark McGowan was politicising strained relations between the nations. Mr Dutton told reporters on Friday the People’s Liberation Army “warship with intelligence-gathering capability” had sailed very close to the State’s northern coast over the past week, coming “as far south as any of these vessels have in the past”. For it to stick so close to the shore — “a strange course” — and to track so far south was unusual, Mr Dutton said. “I think it is an aggressive act,” he said. “For it to come so far south is without precedent. “It is unusual that there wouldn’t be notice given to the Australian authorities about the activities and the course of this vessel but that’s the way it is at the moment. “Its intention will be to collect as much electronic intelligence as it can. “There’s certainly the desire for them to look hydrographically, which is why they send vessels from time to time, so to look at routes for submarines, to look at coastline facilities. “And importantly, that Harold E Holt facility is … in that vicinity so they will be seeking to target that particular location and other military installations that we have along the WA coast.” The vessel is currently heading in the direction of Darwin and its movements are being monitored “very closely”, he said. “We’ve obviously had a number of aircraft involved in the surveillance of this vessel.” He said it did cause concern. The announcement comes after the Premier again took aim at the Federal Minister at a post-Budget breakfast event over his approach to relations with Beijing, saying diplomatic issues “should be addressed diplomatically”. On Anzac Day – in comments clearly directed at China – Mr Dutton said the “only way that you can preserve peace is to prepare for war”. “People out there using phrases like ‘war’ and ‘military conflict’ and so forth, in particular Federal Ministers doing that, I just think it’s grossly irresponsible,” Mr McGowan said at the gathering. He then told reporters Mr Dutton’s language about Australia’s relationship with China was “over-the-top” and it was perplexing why he would be openly discussing “Australia going to war”. “I don’t understand why anyone say that. I don’t understand why the environment we’re in someone like the Defence Minister of Australia will be so nutty,” Mr McGowan said. Asked about the comments, Mr Dutton said Australia had every right to speak out when confronted with acts of aggression. “We’re not going to compromise on our democracy. I want a normalised relationship with China like anyone - I don’t want to see them continue down the path of aggression,” he said. “But if we believe that by saying nothing or by pretending that nothing’s happening, that somehow the problem will resolve itself, I just don’t think people have learnt any of the lessons of history. “You see this collaboration now between Russia and China, between President Xi and President Putin, and if Premier McGowan doesn’t believe that it’s a reality, it is.” Mr Dutton accepted Mr McGowan’s emphasis that China was Australia’s most important trading partner. But Australia would “not stay quiet if we hear human rights abuses”. “We aren’t going to surrender our democratic rights,” Mr Dutton said. “It’s just a personal attack that he (Mr McGowan) is involved in. It’s in the midst of an election campaign so I suspect that is his motivation.” He then went on to say Australia was safer under a Morrison government, which was having to make up ground for reduced defence spending under previous Labor governments. That had made the nation “less safe today”. Asked if China was sending a message to Australia during the election, Mr Dutton replied: “It’s strange timing”. Tensions between the two nations were seemingly sparked by Australia blocking Huawei’s involvement in the 5G network in 2018 and intensified after Australia joined calls for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, erupting into a trade war. The Asian superpower’s recent security pact with the Solomon Islands has added to the strain amid concerns China will build a military base there. Mr McGowan said the Government needed to work to relieve pressure in the Pacific but declined to comment on what an Albanese Government would do differently. “Obviously, there are diplomatic issues, but they should be handled diplomatically,” he said. He said the Commonwealth Government needed to handle issues in a “reasonable way”- meaning “behind closed doors” rather than in “an aggressive public way”. Mr Dutton was asked if his announcement had anything to do with the election and he replied that the government had previously “made the public aware” of other Chinese navy spy vessels off Australia’s east coast. “But this is unusual activity off the west coast at the moment.” Also on Friday, China’s new Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian told Sky News he wanted to build a better relationship between the two countries. “We can join efforts to review our past and look into the future,” he told the broadcaster.