He said Australia was consulting allies and shared concerns about the risk of miscalculations.
“Australia is deeply concerned about China’s launch of ballistic missiles in the waters around the coast of Taiwan,” he said.
“This is a serious matter for the region, including for our close strategic partner, Japan.
“It is in all our interests to have a region in peace and not in conflict. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. There is no change to the bipartisan Australia One China policy.”
Australia’s version of the One China policy means it recognizes Beijing’s view that Taiwan is a province of China and does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. However, the policy allows unofficial contact with Taiwan. Before the pandemic, Australian MPs visited Taiwan with parliamentary delegations.
Asked whether the tensions would change the way Australia dealt with China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC: “We have to stay the course we are on, which is to seek cooperation and positive relations with China wherever we can, but defend it. Australian values and Australian national interests.”
The Chinese statement, issued by an “embassy spokesman”, expressed “thanks” to successive Australian governments adhering to the One China policy since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Whitlam government and the communist regime in 1972.
“China has always respected Australia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has never interfered in its internal affairs. The Australian side is expected to adhere to the one-China principle, adopt a fair position and give understanding and support for China on the Taiwan issue, which is an important issue on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The declaration said that Taiwan was “an inalienable part of the territory of China” and that the Communist government in Beijing was the only legal government representing all of China.
“I want to emphasize again that the one-China principle is the overwhelming consensus of the international community, the political basis of China’s relations with other countries, the core of China’s core interests, and a red line and a of funds that cannot be transferred,” the statement said.
“The Chinese people will never accept that any country or force questions China’s sovereignty on the Taiwan issue, pours out the one-China policy, and even deliberately creates trouble in the Taiwan Strait.”
The statement, in line with other comments from Chinese officials and state media, blamed Pelosi’s visit for upsetting China.
“The world has seen very clearly that it is US provocations that have led to the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” the embassy said.
“The United States has become the ‘biggest destroyer’ of Taiwan Strait peace and regional stability.”
The unprecedented display of Chinese firepower to threaten Taiwan is seeing the Chinese military conduct war games in six areas of the island. Taipei has said China has effectively blockaded the island.
Communist Party spokesman The Global Times said the drills involved long-range rockets, anti-ship ballistic missiles, fighter jets and stealth bombers, 10 destroyers and frigates, an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine.
The newspaper claimed the exercises had shown the military could take the island by force and repel defenders such as the US. He claimed the missiles had accurately hit targets east of the island representing enemy aircraft carriers.