Tensions erupt over arrival of six Chinese nationals found wandering in remote Aboriginal community
Tensions have erupted over how the Albanian government should deal with the arrival of six Chinese nationals found wandering in a remote Aboriginal community on Western Australia’s northern coast earlier this week.
Two of the men were found wandering in and around the Kalumburu Aboriginal community on the northern Kimberley coast by an off-duty police officer on Monday. Four more men were found in the town on Tuesday by members of the public and border authorities.
Australian Border Force declined to comment on the discovery and said it did not speak on matters related to the operation.
Locals said three Border Force boats were seen off the coast of the area by yesterday morning and footage showed the men being handed over to Australian Border Force officials by WA police.
They have since been detained.
The search for the ship thought to be used by the suspects continues.
This is the second detention of a group of foreign nationals who arrived in the remote Kimberley region by boat since February 2024 and comes amid a steady increase in the number of illegal fishing vessels recorded in Australian waters.
The Liberal Party said the incident represented another border failure for the Albanian government, which has been repeatedly criticized for its approach to immigration and border security.
Opposition leader Jonno Duniam said the Albanian government was distracted by its recent agreements with the Middle East and responded inadequately to the border crisis.
“Perhaps if Tony Burke had spent less time covering up secret meetings On bringing former ISIS members to Australia “And if we can spend more time on border security, we won’t rely on off-duty police officers to detect illegal arrivals,” he said.
But Greens Senator David Shoebridge said Australia should keep its own immigration problems in perspective and the men should be treated as refugees.
“I just returned from a trip to Lebanon and Middle Eastern countries dealing with millions of refugees,” he said.
“And yes, it is difficult and challenging, but to put it in perspective, a country with Australia’s wealth and resources should not go into political collapse because six people have sought asylum in China.
“The politicians who are trying to demonize these six are the same politicians who are demonizing China, criticizing its policies; people have the right to asylum.
“There are people in China who are being persecuted because of their ethnicity, religion or politics, and they have the right to asylum.
“If we could discuss this issue rationally, we would not have thrown the country into crisis because of six people seeking asylum in a country that does not have the same political standards as we do.”
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has been contacted for comment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred all questions to the ABF.
