Foreign Minister demands other countries must ‘respect PNG’s sovereignty’

A MYSTERY drone sighting has sparked a UFO geo-political row between China, Australia, PNG and Indonesia. PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, who regularly meets with the Chinese on bilateral aid talks, was not a happy man after the incident.

He angrily demanded that China in no uncertain terms respect the “sovereignty of Papua New Guinea at all times”.

While PNG maintains a ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ motto, however, the ‘Dronegate’ incident has ruffled PNG’s government to rethink its foreign policy mantra.

As China strengthens its ambitions in the southwest Pacific, smaller Pacific Island nations are feeling vulnerable to the Chinese threat.

As tensions simmer between the four countries, no one between the superpowers – China, Indonesia or Australia – has owned up to who the alleged drone belongs to.

However, it is widely known that three Chinese warships have been transiting through PNG and Australian waters.

It has been reported widely locally and internationally that a large drone was spotted near the Australia-Papua New Guinea Torres Straits border.

The Australian Government reported that its Defence Force was aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia.  “Defence can confirm the Chinese vessels are the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang; the PLA-N Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.”

“Defence routinely monitors all maritime traffic in our exclusive economic zone and maritime approaches.

“The vessels travelled through Southeast Asia, before entering Australia’s maritime approaches.

“One of the vessels, the Hengyang, transited the waters to Australia’s north.

“Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia’s right to do the same.

“Defence will continue to monitor the activities of the task group in Australia’s maritime approaches with a combination of capabilities, including air and maritime assets.”

Australia claimed there was a drone seen at the same time the Chinese navy was passing through the area.

Villagers also spotted the drone flying about five kilometres inland from the coastal settlement of Mabudawan in an area only a few kilometres from Saibai Island in the Torres Straits.

Indonesia also raised concerns but remained tight-lipped with their response when contacted.

The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby confirmed that the Chinese navy vessels were planning to sail into PNG waters on the same day that Australian officials briefed the minister on the same topic, which was around two days before the Australian Defence Force made a statement alerting the public to their presence in the Tasman Sea.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}