Transparency benefits when dealing with ‘brazen’ China
Australia should be transparent about any “brazen” clashes with China, a senior Philippine Coast Guard official says.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela said his own nation found there were lots of benefits in being open about “encountering the brazen activities” of Beijing.
“The lies, the misinformation of China, it’s very difficult for you to address that if you’re not going to release an alternative option for the people to hear,” he said.
“That’s why, before they hear the fake news, I’m already telling the factual narrative, and I think that is something that Australian government should also adopt if you’re going to address the unlawful activities of China.”
The Philippine Coast Guard has previously released footage of run-ins with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea.
The Australian Defence Force has also been on the receiving end of what the Albanese government has labelled “unprofessional” behaviour from the Chinese military.
This includes an incident earlier this year when flares were dropped in the flight path of an Australian Navy helicopter.
But despite Beijing appearing to publish video of a 2022 incident where a Chinese fighter intercepted an Australian aircraft over the South China Sea, the government is yet to do the same.
Commodore Tarriela said Chinese President Xi Jinping needed to be made “afraid”.
“Let’s tell him that what he’s doing is no longer allowed by the collective actions of more powerful countries,” he said.
On ASEAN member states, Commodore Tarriela said it was always a challenge to get the support of other countries in “exposing the aggressive actions of the People’s Republic of China”.
The Philippines would not allow “bullies and wrongdoing to prevail”, he added.
“We choose to stand up against injustice and violation of the international law and our limited military strength will not deter us because we have strong faith in humanity, believing that such sinister and malevolent nations will ultimately fail, as history has shown us.”
Asked about the AUKUS partnership with the US and UK, Commodore Tarriela said he had no doubt the security deal would help in his nation’s “fight” against “China’s bullying activities”.
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