EDITORIAL: It’s time trite Anthony Albanese called out China aggression

It took an appearance at Senate estimates by the boss of the defence force to finally get a clear answer on how and when Australia first became aware of provocative live firing exercises by China off the NSW coast.

Admiral David Johnston confirmed to the hearing that it was a Virgin pilot who first raised the alarm, radioing through to Airservices Australia at 9.58am AEDT on Friday. The pilot told air traffic controllers of a Chinese broadcast warning of a weapons drill occurring in the area from 9.00am to 3pm.

That message made its way to Defence 10 minutes later. A warning also came through to the ADF via New Zealand’s navy, but not until 11.01am.

That means for 40 minutes, the ADF was completely in the dark about China’s blatantly aggressive conduct on our doorstep.

Importantly, the timeline given by Admiral Johnston blows out of the water Anthony Albanese’s story that China had given Australia “notice” of the exercise.

Notice after the fact and delivered via a civilian third party isn’t notice.

While the Government has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over the drill, which forced almost 50 aeroplanes to change their flight plans, the Prime Minister has been curiously reticent to call out China for its obvious belligerence.

Instead, Mr Albanese has stressed that China’s conduct is not in breach of international law.

“It’s important to not suggest that wasn’t the case. What we have done is to make appropriate representation through diplomatic channels, including foreign minister to foreign minister,” he said on Saturday.

“They could have given more notice but Australia has a presence from time to time in the South China Sea (and) this activity took place outside of our exclusive economic zone.”

Conducting lessons in leaf blower operation from your suburban backyard is also not illegal, but nor is it advisable if your goal is to maintain a peaceful neighbourhood.

The key difference between the freedom of navigation exercises conducted by Australia in the South China Sea and between China and Japan is that Australia’s activities are conducted at the invitation of neighbouring nations including the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan — countries at direct risk from China’s escalating aggression.

New Zealand has made no such invitation to China.

Nor has Australia threatened to invade New Caledonia, as China has Taiwan.

So why is Australia’s Prime Minister parroting nonsensical lines straight out of Xi Jinping’s propaganda machine?

This provocation by China is a clear cut attempt to intimidate Australia with its military might.

Judging by Mr Albanese’s limp-wristed response to the threat, it has achieved its goal.

Instead of calling China out for its dangerous antagonism, he is sticking by the fantasy that all is well in our relationship. Mr Albanese’s trite mantra on China is that we must “co-operate where we can and disagree where we must”.

Now is the time for some disagreement.