Sydney: Australian Defence Minister David Johnston has backed comments by his United States counterpart Chuck Hagel accusing China of "destabilising" actions in the South China Sea.
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Hagel accused China of a number of alleged infractions, including against the Philippines and Vietnam, the two most vocal critics of Beijing's territorial claims.
"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," the US Secretary of Defence told the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
In opening the forum, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged countries to respect the rule of law, in apparent reference to perceived Chinese aggression in the South and East China seas.
Johnston told the Sydney Morning Herald, in an interview from Singapore published Monday, that he supported their view.
"The US, Australia and Japan are very concerned that unilateral action is destabilising the region of the South China Sea particularly, and the East China Sea."
Asked whether he supported Hagel's comments, the Australian minister said: "I do to the extent that it is destabilisation.. in a previously very successful region that has been able to deliver enormous amounts of prosperity to countries in the Asia-Pacific.
"This instability is unwarranted and quite damaging to the future economic prospects. So I do share Secretary Hagel's concerns."
Johnston said that Australia did not take sides in territorial disputes between China and other countries, but said Canberra would attempt to persuade the Asian superpower there was "another path".
His office confirmed to AFP the remarks were correct.
China has denounced Hagel's "provocative" comments along with those of Abe.
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Hagel accused China of a number of alleged infractions, including against the Philippines and Vietnam, the two most vocal critics of Beijing's territorial claims.
"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," the US Secretary of Defence told the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
Johnston told the Sydney Morning Herald, in an interview from Singapore published Monday, that he supported their view.
Advertisement
Asked whether he supported Hagel's comments, the Australian minister said: "I do to the extent that it is destabilisation.. in a previously very successful region that has been able to deliver enormous amounts of prosperity to countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Advertisement
Johnston said that Australia did not take sides in territorial disputes between China and other countries, but said Canberra would attempt to persuade the Asian superpower there was "another path".
Advertisement
China has denounced Hagel's "provocative" comments along with those of Abe.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
'Will Be Drawing On Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh A Bit More': Pat Cummins Ahead Of Border-Gavaskar Trophy Against India "Country That Is Struggling...": Australia Skipper Alyssa Healy On Turmoil-Hit Bangladesh Hosting Women's T20 World Cup Viral Video: Man Enjoys Giant Bubble Tea Inside Bus, Internet Calls It "Bubble Sea" Student Arrested For Controversial Post On Mamata Banerjee What Murdered Doctor's Father Said About A Torn Page From Her Diary Malala Yousafzai's Post On Taliban After Attending Taylor Swift Concert Joe Biden Accused Of "Impeachable" Offence Ahead Of Democratic Convention Mumbai BMW Hit-And-Run Accused Says He Is Illegally Detained, Seeks Release UPSC To Introduce AI-Based CCTV Surveillance To Prevent Cheating Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.