Australia says ‘deeply concerning, destabilising’ Chinese exercises near Taiwan risk inflaming regional tension

Foreign affairs department statement says Australia opposes any actions that ‘increase the risk of accident, miscalculation or escalation’

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Australia says it is deeply concerned about Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, and has raised the issue with Chinese officials.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said the large-scale simulations risked destabilising the region and could result in an accident or escalation.