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| An aerial view of the Subi reef, one of the tiny islands being claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea EPA-EFE/FRANCIS R. MALASIG |
The Chinese embassy in Australia rejected on Fridays โunfounded accusationsโ against China made by the defence and foreign ministers of Australia and their U.S. counterparts after annual talks in Washington.
The two countries, in a statement after Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations, expressed concern over Chinaโs โexpansive maritime claims in the South China Sea that are without legal basisโ, and stated their intention to strengthen ties with their โcritical partnerโ Taiwan.
The comments from Australia and the United States came a day after they announced a submarine deal as part of a security partnership that includes Britain, which China denounced as intensifying a regional arms race.
Australia and the United States also criticised Chinaโs imposition of national security legislation in Hong Kong last year that they said had weakened its electoral system, suppressed media freedom, and undermined the former British colonyโs โone country, two systemsโ formula, agreed when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
They also expressed โgrave concerns about Chinaโs โcampaign of repression against Uyghursโ, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in western Chinaโs Xinjiang region.
The Chinese embassy dismissed their accusations as a futile pressure tactic.
โThis petty move to put pressure on China will be of no avail but a staged farce,โ a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canberra said in a statement.
โWe firmly oppose and reject the unfounded accusations and erroneous remarks against China on issues related to the South China Sea, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other China-related issues.โ
Taiwanโs government welcomed the show of support from Washington and Canberra.
โOur countryโs government will, on the existing solid foundation, continue to work closely with the United States, Australia and other like-minded countries to expand Taiwanโs international space, defend the democratic system and shared values,โ said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou.
Speaking after the meetings in Washington, Australia and the United States also announced expanded military cooperation, including rotational deployments of all types of U.S. military aircraft to Australia.
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