Australian high commissioner criticises Chinese Ambassador to India for objecting to comments on South China Sea

Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell on Friday hit back at Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong for objecting to his comments about China’s “destabilising” manoeuvres in the South China Sea and asserted that Beijing should refrain from actions that could unilaterally alter the status quo in the region.

On Thursday, Mr. O’Farrell said Australia remains deeply concerned by Chinese actions in the South China Sea that are “destabilising and could provoke escalation”. The resource-rich South China Sea is also an important shipping route.

In a tweet, Mr. Weidong took objection to the Australian diplomat’s remarks and said they were made “disregarding facts”.