In Melbourne, Australia, the Australian and New Zealand military are closely monitoring three Chinese warships that have been sighted moving further south along the east coast of Australia on a mysterious mission, officials revealed on Thursday. The Australian government had disclosed a week earlier that these warships had traveled through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea and were now approaching northeast Australia. Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the Chinese ships – the naval frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi, and replenishment vessel Weishanhu – were currently positioned “off the east coast of Australia.”
Details provided by officials did not address a Financial Times report stating that the Chinese task group, belonging to the People’s Liberation Army, was located 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) east of Sydney. Marles acknowledged the unusual nature of the situation, describing it as “not unprecedented.” He assured that Australian navy ships and air force planes were closely monitoring the Chinese ships as they navigated through international waters within Australia’s exclusive economic zone. Marles emphasized that while the Chinese warships were within their rights to be present in the area, Australia was exercising caution in closely observing their activities.
The Australian government intends to conduct a thorough assessment after the completion of the Chinese task group’s mission to understand their objectives. Meanwhile, in Beijing, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson expressed unawareness of the situation, and the Chinese Embassy in Australia remained unresponsive to requests for comment.
Australia has been engaged in discussions with Papua New Guinea, its neighboring country, as the Chinese warships passed by the South Pacific island nation on their way to Australia’s economic zone. Collaboration with New Zealand, separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea, has also been established as they monitor the Chinese ships by sea and air in coordination with Australia. New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins confirmed their lack of information regarding the purpose of the Chinese task group’s deployment and stated their commitment to ongoing surveillance of the vessels.
Experts, including Jennifer Parker from Australia’s National Security College, believe that this maneuver by the Chinese navy signifies a broader effort to project power globally. According to Parker, such displays of power projection are expected to increase in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The timing of the Chinese deployment coincides with the visit of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo to Australia, though experts believe this was likely planned independently of each other.
Travel until close to the visit. “Without knowing exactly where the ships are going, the point of this deployment, I think, is to demonstrate to Australia that they have the capability to come down and operate in our maritime domain,” Parker said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference he was not worried by reports of Chinese warships off Sydney. “The Chinese naval ships are complying with international law, but as we do, we are monitoring the situation and observing what is going on, as you would expect,” Albanese said. Relations between the Chinese and Australian militaries remain dangerous. Three Chinese warships visited Sydney Harbor in 2019. But their voyage had been approved by the Australian government. Australia’s diplomatic and trade relations with China have improved in recent years, but relations between the two militaries are dangerous. Australia protested what it described as an unsafe interaction last week over the South China Sea where a Chinese fighter is accused of releasing flares that endangered an Australian military surveillance plane. Guo, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, accused the Australian aircraft of “deliberately” intruding into airspace over the disputed Paracel Islands, which China claims. Associated Press writer Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report.
