Australia will continue to ‘exercise freedom of navigation’ despite harsh new Chinese law

Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie says Australia will continue to keep “exercising our freedom of navigation” despite China’s new maritime law.

The law, which came into force on September 1, requires foreign vessels to submit details of the journey to the Chinese government and submit to supervision by the Chinese military.

“China is trying to impose new rules that prevent Australia or any other nation from exercising freedom of navigation or overflight through the South China Seas,” Mr Hastie told Sky News host Peta Credlin.

“We want a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region, we believe in a rules-based global order.

“So, it’s really important to keep exercising our freedom of navigation, as we have done so six times already.

“We are looking to our allies to do the same, as they have been doing as well.”