China's new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has made a public pitch to reset the diplomatic relationship with Australia, calling for old friendships to be renewed.
Mr Qian attended a Canberra ceremony to honour NSW police officer Kelly Foster, who died trying to save the life of a Chinese national in 2021.
In his speech, he called for China and Australia's diplomatic ties to be renewed after celebrating the 50-year anniversary of domestic relations between the two countries.
"Taking this anniversary as an opportunity, China is willing to work with Australia to meet each other halfway to review the past, look into the future, to adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality and mutual benefit," he said on Thursday.
Mr Xiao said China is waiting to "actively develop friendship and cooperation" with Australia.
"Let's jointly make efforts to push forward China-Australia relations along the right track.
"The diplomatic channel is open. It is open today and it will remain open. I am here to communicate with our Australian counterpart."
Senior constable Foster was awarded the Great Wall Commemorative Medal from China in posthumous recognition after she died in a whirlpool trying to save canyoner Jennifer Qi in the NSW Blue Mountains in January 2021.
NSW police officer Kelly Foster died in a whirlpool tragedy after trying to save Chinese national Jennifer Qi in January 2021. Source: AAP / NSW Police Force
"This tragic story has once again brought our two peoples up closer. Her heroic deeds have been widely spread and highly admired in China and millions of people in China could feel the warmth, kindness and friendship from the Australian people."
NSW Police officer Kelly Foster is posthumously awarded the Great Wall Commemorative Medal for sacrificing her life to save Chinese national Jennifer Qi in a whirlpool tragedy in 2021. Source: SBS News
The ADF said the lives of its personnel could have been in danger from such actions, calling it unprofessional and unsafe military conduct.
In a statement released on Saturday, the defence department said that on Thursday, 17 February, the P-8A Poseidon detected a laser coming from a People's Liberation Army Navy vessel illuminating the aircraft while in flight over Australia's northern approaches.
Mr Morrison demanded an investigation be launched into what he described as a "reckless act".
"I can see it in no other way than an act of intimidation," Mr Morrison told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.
"It was dangerous, it was reckless and it was unprofessional for what should be a sophisticated navy."
But Beijing denied the allegations and defended the Chinese ship's movements as "normal navigation ... in line with relevant international law."
"We urge Australia to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese ships in relevant sea areas in accordance with international law and stop spreading false information related to China," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Monday.
