The commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Thursday called for more cooperation and communication with its Australian counterparts, warning that the latter’s recent actions in the South China Sea have jeopardized regional stability.

“The general situation in the South China Sea is positive, but the Australian navy’s recent actions in the region are against the consensus reached by the leaders of the two nations and hinder bilateral cooperation,” Commander Shen Jinlong was quoted as saying by China’s Ministry of National Defense on Thursday.

The remarks were made during Shen’s meeting with Australian Vice Admiral Tim Barrett in Beijing on Dec. 14. Barrett started his visit to China on Dec. 13 amid escalating tensions between the two nations.

The Australian Navy has forged ahead with long-held plans to send six Navy vessels to conduct months of military exercises in the region, with 1,200 personnel participating in the action in September. The Global Times reported that the move is the biggest task-group deployment in more than 40 years, and it has triggered criticism from China.

According to Shen, the two nations’ navies have deepened cooperation, and have seen a steady relationship for years. He called for more mutual respect, as well as more control on the two nations’ maritime military actions.

Echoing Shen, Barrett said the Australian Navy highly values the friendly relationship with its Chinese counterparts and hopes to promote more cooperation in the future.