Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull today said the Australian navy has a perfect right to move across the South China Sea. He said in Canberra that Australia maintain and practice the right of freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the world including South China Sea as its perfect right in accordance with international law.
Prime Minister’s comment came after a media report that the Chinese navy had challenged three Australian warships in the hotly contested waterway. Australian Broadcasting Corporation citing defense officials said the Chinese challenged two Australian frigates and an oil replenishment ship this month as the Australian ships were sailing to Vietnam.
According to Australia’s Defence Department three warships had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday on a three-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.
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