China ‘want to stop’ Australian military in any form from patrolling waters in Asia
Lowy Institute Senior Fellow Richard McGregor says China “want to stop” the Australian military in any form from patrolling waters in north Asia.
Mr McGregor says they also want to stop the military from patrolling parts of south-east Asia and the South China Sea.
“I think the context has been lost, it’s all about Australia being bullied by China,” Mr McGregor told Sky News Australia.
“China is really responding to what Australia’s been doing along with allies, Japan, the US and also the Philippines, we’ve actually been on the front foot in this respect, in doing joint patrols with our allies.
China ‘want to stop’ Australian military in any form from patrolling waters in Asia
“It’s a sort of heavily symbolic act to support the rules of the road in the South China Sea and to support the Philippines.