The Australian government said on Saturday it had expressed “serious concern” to China over an “unsafe and unprofessional” interaction between an Australian navy ship and a Chinese warship that resulted in injuries to Australian military divers, Reuters reported.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the long-range frigate HMAS Toowoomba was conducting a diving operation in Japan’s exclusive economic zone on November 14 to clear fishing nets of propellers when the incident occurred.

“While the diving operations were underway, a PLA-N destroyer (DDG-139) operating nearby approached HMAS Toowoomba,” Marles said in a statement, referring to the People’s Liberation Army Navy ship.

He said that despite the Australian ship alerting the Chinese warship to the sinking operation and asking it to stay away, the destroyer approached “within a short distance”.

“Shortly afterwards, he was found to be operating a hull-mounted sonar in a manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers, who were forced out of the water.”

The behavior was “dangerous and unprofessional,” Marles said.

The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the Minister of Defense, medics found minor injuries to the divers, which were probably caused by the destroyer’s sonar.

“Australia expects all countries, including China, to manage their militaries in a professional and safe manner,” Marles said, adding that the safety and welfare of Australian military personnel was the “highest priority for the government”.

China has become an increasingly assertive power in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years, notably through improved security ties with the Solomon Islands in July.

Earlier this year, Australia, a close ally of the United States, held a two-week military exercise involving more than 30,000 troops alongside the US in a show of force against China’s growing regional influence. (News.ro)