China warships question Labor won't answer
The Australian Defence Force revealed in February it was tracking two People's Liberation Army-navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea, off Queensland.
They passed within 150 nautical miles (278km) east of Sydney as they moved south and conducted live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea without notifying Canberra or air traffic controllers.
The Albanese government has kept tight-lipped on what the Chinese flotilla's mission was, even amid fears AUKUS could be on the rocks, Australia trailing its allies in defence spending and warnings Beijing poses an 'imminent' threat to the region. Three Chinese warships carried out live drills off Australia's east coast. Australian Defence Force Credit: Supplied
Mr Marles, who is also defence minister, on Monday told News Corp's Defending Australia Summit the Chinese live-fire drills was 'very much not diplomacy or defensive diplomacy'.
'None of that provides strategic reassurance,' he said.
Asked point blank if they were rehearsing strikes on Australian cities or onshore facilities, Mr Marles said he did know but would not confirm or deny.
'Look, I do know the answer to the question,' he said.
'I don't think it's appropriate or helpful for me in this situation to speculate about it for a range of reasons … and the most significant being what we did with the Chinese task group was to engage in an unprecedented level of surveillance on that task group.
'So we do know exactly what they were doing and exactly what they're rehearsing.
'For me to start talking about that obviously reveals our surveillance capabilities, which is why I'm reluctant to.' Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says he knows whether Chinese warships were targeting Australian cities when they carried out exercises earlier this year. Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Marles added the Chinese ships were 'very clear about what they were doing'.
'Perhaps I would say that I think I don't think there are any capabilities that were put on display there which are particular surprise,' he said.
'And we were also, as I say – being able to surveil that task group in the manner which we did also sends an important statement.'
More to come.
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