The United Nations Security Council Enforcement Coordination Cell was established by the United Nations to document violations of Security Council sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear activities and ballistic missile program [UNSC ECC] uses surveillance resources from eight countries, namely France, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and Australia.
Although China is a permanent member of the Security Council, it does not seem to view very positively the monitoring missions carried out within the framework of this UN Security Council. In fact, in recent months, the People’s Liberation Army [APL] is accused of being responsible for several, sometimes serious, incidents with the aircraft and ships of the countries involved in this system.
In October, the Canadian Department of Defense condemned the dangerous interception by J-10 and J fighters of a CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, which was then involved in a mission in favor of the UNSC ECC. -16 Chinese. This was not unprecedented, as he had reported a similar incident a year earlier.
The latest incident occurred off the coast of Japan in international waters. This time it is a Royal Australian Navy frigate [RAN]HMAS Toowoomba, which was intimidated by a Chinese “destroyer” while sailing in the exclusive economic zone [ZEE] from Japan, November 14th.
According to Australian Defense Department statements provided to the UNSC cell, the HMAS Toowoomba had broken down to allow divers on board to remove a fishing net that had become tangled around her. from their propellers. Apparently he had gone to the trouble of making it clear that he would conduct such an operation through “appropriate sea channels” and “using internationally recognized signals.”
But while they were cruising in the area, the Ningbo, a Chinese Type 956EM destroyer, approached the Australian frigate. Despite having “detected communications” from HMAS Toowoomba, he continued his approach… before activating his hull sonar “in a manner which posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers” who were “forced out of the water” . “, reported the ministry.
However, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the divers “suffered minor injuries, probably due to the sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer,” he added, denouncing the Chinese ship’s “dangerous and unprofessional behavior.”
This incident occurred less than two weeks after Australia and China confirmed improving diplomatic relations [et, surtout, commerciales]. But its existence was only revealed barely 24 hours after the last APEC summit [Coopération économique pour l’Asie-Pacifique], where Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met again with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Did the two men discuss the incident between HMAS Toowoomba and the Ningbo? At least that’s what the Australian opposition wants to know.
Regardless, this is not the first time Australia has denounced the dangerous behavior of Chinese forces. In June 2022, a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft [RAAF] had been approached by a J-16 firing flares and chaff [constituées de fibres de verre enrobées d’aluminium pour tromper les radars, ndlr] after he cut him off.