World Tibet Network News Tuesday, May 05, 1998 (II)

Melbourne, 4th May (Radio Australia) -- The first visit to Australia of a Chinese warship has attracted a pro-Tibetan protest, with one man arrested. Ron Fuller reports the man leapt onto the rear of the destroyer Qingdao as it was sailing into Sydney Harbour.

[Fuller] The guided missile destroyer was leading two other People's Liberation Army naval vessels into Sydney when around half-way down the harbour it was approached by a small boat. When the craft came in close to the stern of the vessel, a man in a wetsuit leapt into a recessed section, holding off police [as heard] and sailors onboard who were trying to dislodge him. As the destroyer was berthing, the crew threw a tarpaulin over the [pro-] Tibetan demonstrator, shielding him from view as he was dragged through the ship and handed over to police.