The wreck of one of the most storied US Navy submarines of World War II has been found in the South China Sea eight decades after its last patrol, the Navy's History and Heritage Command said.
Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.
Anthony Albanese expressed concerns over "unsafe and destabilising behaviour" in the South China Sea, citing the collision between Chinese and Philippine ships the previous day.
At stake is the peace and stability of the island, 160 kilometres off the coast of China, that Beijing claims as its own and to be retaken by force if necessary.
The incidents near Second Thomas Shoal, where China has repeatedly tried to isolate a Philippine marine outpost, could have been worse if the vessels were not able to manoeuvre rapidly away from the Chinese ships.
It's known as the "Hawaii of China," a tropical island paradise where the Chinese middle class enjoys sandy beaches, five-star resorts, and duty-free luxury shopping.
A Chinese fighter jet intercepted a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea last week and performed an "unsafe manoeuvre," forcing the US aircraft to take evasive action.
A prolonged war in the South China Sea would threaten 90 per cent of Australia's fuel imports and supplies would run out after two months, a study released today warns.
China's ambassador to Australia said the US was to blame for rising tensions around the self-governing island, branding it attack on China's national sovereignty.
China's ambassador to Australia delivered a harsh message about the "One-China" policy today as he laid blame for spiraling Taiwan Strait tensions at US feet.
A US Navy warship on Saturday challenged Chinese claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement - the second operation of its kind this week.
A total of 29 Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan's self-declared air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, according to the island's Defence Ministry.
Cambodia on Tuesday again denied it would allow any Chinese military presence at the Ream Naval Base where it and China are beginning an expansion this week.
The "dangerous" interception of an Australian military reconnaissance aircraft by a Chinese warplane last month is a stark lesson for the new Labor government.