Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Some Chinese bombers including the nuclear strike-capable H-6K recently carried out take-off and landing training on Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands. While meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Bishop said Australia’s position has been very clear and consistent and Australia’s concern about militarisation of disputed features of the East Sea has been the subject of a number of discussions, and was again discussed at the G20 summit.

Bishop also held talks on the East Sea with the US at the summit. She said Australia will continue exercise the rights of freedom of navigation and overflights in the East Sea and support other countries’ rights to do so and reiterated this stance with China.