Bazz

China has signed up to UNCLOS. In its words, “China respects and upholds the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all states under international law in the South China Sea, and stays ready to work with other coastal states and the international community to ensure the safety of and the unimpeded access to the international shipping lanes in the South China Sea.” The US refuses to sign up to UNCLOS and Australia withdrew from its arbitration mechanism in order to avoid a negative ruling in its maritime boundary dispute with Timor-Leste.

Both the US and Australia thumb their nose at international law when it suits them. Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, the Paris Accord on climate change, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Arms Trade Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty. Biden shows little interest in rejoining most of these. Neither the US or Australia is in a position to criticise China.

China respects the sovereignty of other nations and not unfairly expects other nations to reciprocate. The US repeatedly ignores the sovereignty of other nations. It invades other countries, forces regime change, foments coups, conducts bombing raids and assassinates leaders. China has done none of this. In the words of Xi Jinping, “The Chinese people love peace. We will never seek aggression or expansion, but we have the confidence to defeat all invasions. We will never allow any people, organization or political party to split any part of Chinese territory out of the country at any time, in any form. No one should expect us to swallow the bitter fruit that is harmful to our sovereignty, security or development interests.” This is a perfectly legitimate position for any sovereign nation to take.

Bronwyn, what you say is incorrect.
I have heard the radio transmissions when Australian ships and
aircraft pass near the disputed Islands and Reefs.
One Australian Naval vessel transiting from Vietnam to the Phillipines
was challenged most aggressively and threatened.
The tone and wording used is very aggressive.
The behaviour of their ships and aircraft is very unprofessional when
in close proximity to other vessels and aircraft.
Arrogance is the word that comes to mind.

Bronwyn,

According to UNCLOS, the Islands built by china in the south china sea are not their territory.

Bazz

I have no knowledge of the example you refer to, but guess it’s hardly surprising if the Chinese are increasingly reciprocating with the same aggressive and unprofessional language they’ve more than likely been subjected to by many in the Western military. An Australian naval vessel transiting from Vietnam to the Philippines is in itself a threatening posture. What’s it doing there? Why are US, UK and Australian warships patrolling Chinese coastal waters? This is what gets up the nose of the Chinese and very understandably. If the roles were reversed, the US wouldn’t stand for it. The Chinese ships would be bombed first and questions asked later.

Shadowminister

UNCLOS has made one ruling in the South China Sea disputes, that of the 2016 Philippines V China ruling. The ruling greatly favoured the Philippines’ claims, though hardly surprising, with the expert testimony being very much one-sided, due to China choosing not to participate in proceedings. The tribunal did not rule on the ownership of the islands in question. I’m not sure whether or not this includes some or all of China’s land reclamations. I concede there are environmental problems with these land reclamations, as there are with those carried out by the US. I'm totally against the increasing militarisation of the area, by both the US and China. It wouldn't be happening, however, if it wasn't for the West's aggressive policing of a part of the world it has no natural claim to.

Bronwyn, the Australian ship passed through Phillipine coastal zone
and Phillipine teritorial waters. That was what the Chinese objected
to and the Autralian transmissions have not been in an angry tone
when they explain they are in international waters on a normal passage.
I only once heard a US aircraft respond and it was in a flat monosyble
response.
The Australian aircraft just explain they are in international airspace.
As far as I can tell except for the Timor situation all other places
are treated as per treaty. Even Timor will, or has it already, sorted?

The Chinese should be careful, because when you threaten consequences
you need to be careful no one misinterpenetrates your intent and responds.

Bronwyn,

You are clearly a shill for the Chinese. Here are some facts you might want to chew on:

1 The reason that the Chinese boycotted the tribunal is that they knew that they would lose as the international law of the sea is crystal clear on the issue. Not attending a court case does not invalidate its findings.
2 According to the international law of the sea and the tribunal artificial constructs in the ocean are not considered a new territory and as such do not confer any territorial rights on the Chinese. If anything they are the territory of the Philipines etc.

If anything the US has been demilitarizing in the pacific with the withdrawal of bases in the area. The Chinese militarization of the artificial islands and sinking of local fishing boats is clear aggression to which everyone is responding.

The result is that China is largely without friends with all its neighbours arming themselves against China.