China's Aggressive Naval Tactics Pose Threat to Australian Divers
A recent incident involving a Chinese destroyer using active sonar to injure Australian divers highlights the dangerous escalation of China's aggressive behavior at sea. China has been increasingly engaging in maritime thuggery, such as firing water cannons and aiming blinding lasers, but this incident marks a significant escalation as it involves a warship-on-warship interaction. The use of active sonar in this manner is a hostile act and should be met with proportional force. It is crucial for navies operating near China to have clear Rules of Engagement (ROE) that address such actions. Alliance building and Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) are also important in demonstrating unity and deterring China's grey zone activities. Failure to address these escalating tensions may eventually lead to armed conflict.