Australian Border Force officials turned back a boat carrying nine Chinese nationals, forcing them to return to Indonesia.
Fishermen off Southern Java found the would-be illegal immigrants, who claimed Australian authorities denied them landing, as reported by the Sydney Daily Telegraph reports.
The Chinese passengers and three Indonesian crew members were sent back to Pelabuhan Ratu as part of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders, which strictly enforces a “turn back the boats” policy.
This marks the fourth known attempt by Chinese nationals to reach Australia in 2024, spurred by people smugglers promising asylum if they make landfall. Australia maintains one of the toughest anti-migrant boat policies, consistently pushing back vessels.
Indonesian crew members provided varying accounts: one claimed the Australian navy captured them and transferred them to a lifeboat, while another said they were sent back in their original boat.
Conservative Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson criticized the left-wing Labor government’s handling of border security, stating, “People smugglers are continuing to test Australia’s borders because of the Albanese government’s failure to deliver adequate maritime patrol data and aerial surveillance hours.” He warned that unless Labor strengthens its stance, more boats will attempt to breach Australia’s borders.
