Australia Cruise Ship Evictions Tread CCP Virus Diplomacy Tightrope

A sign reading "Help stop the spread" is seen at an empty Bondi Beach, as the beach remains closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sydney, Australia, on April 1, 2020. Loren Elliott/Reuters

Australia is pushing foreign-flagged cruise ships to leave its territorial waters amid the CCP virus pandemic, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it also tries to bring home citizens trapped on ships abroad.

Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan on April 1 called on the federal government to kick out the German-owned MV Artania after the crew was reported to have asked the Australian Border Force (ABF) for permission to stay until April 14.