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The Guardian
26-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian defence ‘can't be definitive' whether Chinese nuclear submarine is part of live-fire flotilla
Chinese warships south of Hobart appear likely to sail through the Great Australian Bight, and could be accompanied by an undetected nuclear submarine, the chief of the Australian defence force has said. Admiral David Johnston appeared before Senate estimates on Wednesday morning, saying the ADF had been surveilling the three People's Liberation Army-Navy vessels since they split from a larger 'taskgroup' and sailed into Australian waters from southeast Asia last week. But the defence force did not know the ships were undertaking a live-fire drill in the Tasman Sea on Friday until 30 minutes after it had begun. Defence were first notified by a civilian aircraft that was warned by the Chinese vessels when it flew within radio range. It took an hour for the New Zealand Navy, which was monitoring the Chinese vessels at the time, to notify the ADF. The Chinese flotilla – the frigate Hengyang, the cruiser Zunyi, and a replenishment vessel Weishanhu – is currently 250km south of Hobart, inside Australia's exclusive economic zone, sailing southwest. 'The fact that they are currently south of Hobart and proceeding southwest suggests that it is more likely now that they may proceed through the Australian Bight.' Asked to comment on reporting the ships were likely accompanied by a nuclear submarine, Johnston said he could not be categoric. 'I don't know whether there is a submarine with them. It is possible: task groups occasionally do deploy with submarines, but not always. I can't be definitive on whether that's the case.' Johnston said the Chinese flotilla had undertaken two live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea on Friday and on Saturday. He was critical that, while the drills were conducted in international waters, and in accordance with international law, there was insufficient notice before the live-fire drills started. But estimates confirmed that there was, in fact, no notice given, and that the Australian defence force only learned of the live fire drill half an hour after it had started, and via a pilot flying a commercial flight near to the Chinese ships. Johnston confirmed defence was notified of the live-fire drill through AirServices Australia, which had been notified by a commercial pilot who had flown into close proximity to the vessels while the live-firing window was open. At 9:58am on Friday morning, a Virgin commercial pilot was contacted by radio by the Chinese vessels and warned – in English – there was a live-fire drill underway. The Virgin flight had flown within about 250 nautical miles – potentially within line of sight of the Chinese vessels – when it was warned to stay clear. AirServices Australia issued a hazard alert within two minutes, establishing an 18km exclusion zone around the flotilla, extending to a height of 45,000 feet, at 10am. The aviation safety agency then notified the ADF's Joint Operations Command Headquarters, 10 minutes after the initial contact from the Virgin pilot. Twenty-minutes after the initial contact, at 10.18am, a separate commercial flight operated by Emirates was in radio contact with the Chinese warships, which informed pilots that the live firing exercise had commenced at 9.30am and would conclude at 2pm. It was 11:01am – another hour – before the New Zealand navy, which had been shadowing the Chinese flotilla, informed Australia of the live-fire exercise through military channels, estimates heard. Johnston said the lack of notice was potentially dangerous. 'The absence of any advance notice to Australian authorities was a concern, notably, that the limited notice provided by the PLA could have unnecessarily increased the risk to aircraft and vessels in the area,' he told estimates. Outside of estimates, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, insisted the civilian and military notifications on the live-fire drill were contemporaneous. 'At around the same time, there were two area of notification: one was from the New Zealand vessels that were tailing … the [Chinese] vessels in the area. So that occurred and at the same time through the channels that occur when these things occur, Air Services got notified as well.' Albanese said he had been in contact by phone with the New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, as the two navies cooperatively shadowed the Chinese vessels. The shadow minister for defence, Andrew Hastie, told an ABC radio interview China was undertaking 'the biggest peacetime military buildup since 1945', and working to send a strong message that it is a global power. Hastie said he believed China was 'testing US allies as Donald Trump resets relationships in Europe'. 'We're seeing a flotilla of three warships conduct live fire exercises off our coast. So we've gone from wolf warrior diplomacy to gunboat diplomacy.' A spokesperson for defence minister Richard Marles said Australia had lodged formal complaints, both in Canberra and in Beijing, over the ships' actions. 'The Australian government has raised its concern with the lack of notice on the live- fire activity from the Chinese government, including through appropriate channels in Canberra and Beijing.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Australia, New Zealand monitoring 3 Chinese warships off Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian and New Zealand militaries were monitoring three Chinese warships moving unusually far south along Australia's east coast on an unknown mission, officials said Thursday. The Australian government revealed a week ago that the warships had traveled through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea and were approaching northeast Australia. Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that the Chinese ships — the naval frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi and replenishment vessel Weishanhu — were 'off the east coast of Australia.' Defense officials did not respond to a request for comment on a Financial Times report that the task group from China's military, the People's Liberation Army, was 150 nautical miles east of Sydney. 'There is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event,' Marles told Sky News television. Marles said Australian navy ships and air force planes were monitoring the Chinese ships' movements through international waters that are in Australia's exclusive economic zone, the area beyond its territorial waters where a nation has exclusive economic rights. 'They're entitled to be where they are; Australia is also entitled to be prudent, and we are monitoring very closely what the activities of the task group are,' Marles told reporters. 'What we will do whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group is engage in a full assessment of what the Chinese were seeking to achieve in respect of this mission,' he added. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked at a media briefing Wednesday about the Chinese warships' location and replied he was not aware of the situation. The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Marles said Australia had engaged with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea over its response because the Chinese had traveled around the South Pacific island nation's coast on their way to Australia's exclusive economic zone. Australia was also 'working very closely' with New Zealand, which is separated from the Australian east coast by the Tasman Sea, he said. New Zealand's military was also monitoring the Chinese ships by sea and air 'in coordination with Australia,' New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. 'We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this task group has been deployed into our region, and we have not been informed what its future plans are,' she added. 'We will continue to monitor these vessels.' Jennifer Parker, an expert associate of Australia's National Security College and a former Australian naval officer, said Chinese warships rarely traveled so far south along the nation's east coast. 'This is part of a broader power projection from the PLA-Navy and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean,' Parker said. The Chinese deployment comes as the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo visits Australia this week. Parker said the timing was likely coincidental given the Chinese deployment would have been planned well in advance and the United States doesn't release information about their senior officers' 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. 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.
Arab Times
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Australian, New Zealand militaries monitor 3 Chinese warships off Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb 20, (AP): The Australian and New Zealand militaries were monitoring three Chinese warships moving unusually far south along Australia's east coast on an unknown mission, officials said Thursday. The Australian government revealed a week ago that the warships had traveled through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea and were approaching northeast Australia. Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that the Chinese ships - the naval frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi and replenishment vessel Weishanhu - were "off the east coast of Australia.' Defense officials did not respond to a request for comment on a Financial Times report that the task group from China's military, the People's Liberation Army, was 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) east of Sydney. "There is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event,' Marles told Sky News television. Marles said Australian navy ships and air force planes were monitoring the Chinese ships' movements through international waters that are in Australia's exclusive economic zone, the area beyond its territorial waters where a nation has exclusive economic rights. "They're entitled to be where they are; Australia is also entitled to be prudent and we are monitoring very closely what the activities of the task group are,' Marles told reporters. "What we will do whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group is engage in a full assessment of what the Chinese were seeking to achieve in respect of this mission,' he added. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked at a media briefing on Wednesday about the Chinese warships' location and replied he was not aware of the situation. The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Marles said Australia had engaged with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea over its response because the Chinese had traveled around the South Pacific island nation's coast on their way to Australia's exclusive economic zone. Australia was also "working very closely' with New Zealand, which is separated from the Australian east coast by the Tasman Sea, he said. New Zealand's military was also monitoring the Chinese ships by sea and air "in coordination with Australia,' New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. "We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this task group has been deployed into our region, and we have not been informed what its future plans are,' she added. "We will continue to monitor these vessels.' Jennifer Parker, an expert associate of Australia's National Security College and a former Australian naval officer, said Chinese warships rarely traveled so far south along the nation's east coast. "This is part of a broader power projection from the PLA-Navy and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean,' Parker said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Australian and New Zealand militaries are monitoring 3 Chinese warships off Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian and New Zealand militaries were monitoring three Chinese warships moving unusually far south along Australia's east coast on an unknown mission, officials said Thursday. The Australian government revealed a week ago that the warships had traveled through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea and were approaching northeast Australia. Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that the Chinese ships — the naval frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi and replenishment vessel Weishanhu — were 'off the east coast of Australia.' Defense officials did not respond to a request for comment on a Financial Times report that the task group from China's military, the People's Liberation Army, was 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) east of Sydney. 'There is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event,' Marles told Sky News television. Australia says Chinese warships entitled to deploy off Australian coast Marles said Australian navy ships and air force planes were monitoring the Chinese ships' movements through international waters that are in Australia's exclusive economic zone, the area beyond its territorial waters where a nation has exclusive economic rights. 'They're entitled to be where they are; Australia is also entitled to be prudent and we are monitoring very closely what the activities of the task group are,' Marles told reporters. 'What we will do whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group is engage in a full assessment of what the Chinese were seeking to achieve in respect of this mission,' he added. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked at a media briefing on Wednesday about the Chinese warships' location and replied he was not aware of the situation. The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Australia engages with Papua New Guinea and New Zealand over Chinese warships Marles said Australia had engaged with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea over its response because the Chinese had traveled around the South Pacific island nation's coast on their way to Australia's exclusive economic zone. Australia was also 'working very closely' with New Zealand, which is separated from the Australian east coast by the Tasman Sea, he said. New Zealand's military was also monitoring the Chinese ships 'in coordination with Australia,' New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. 'We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this task group has been deployed into our region, and we have not been informed what its future plans are,' she added. 'We will continue to monitor these vessels.' She did not specify how the New Zealand military would monitor the Chinese shipping. Experts says China's navy is projecting power around the world Jennifer Parker, an expert associate of Australia's National Security College and a former Australian naval officer, said Chinese warships rarely traveled so far south along the nation's east coast. 'This is part of a broader power projection from the PLA-Navy and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean,' Parker said. The Chinese deployment comes as the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo visits Australia this week. Parker said the timing was likely coincidental given the Chinese deployment would have been planned well in advance and the United States doesn't release information about their senior officers' 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. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
The Australian and New Zealand militaries are monitoring 3 Chinese warships off Australia
The Australian and New Zealand militaries were monitoring three Chinese warships moving unusually far south along Australia's east coast on an unknown mission, officials said Thursday. The Australian government revealed a week ago that the warships had traveled through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea and were approaching northeast Australia. Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that the Chinese ships — the naval frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi and replenishment vessel Weishanhu — were 'off the east coast of Australia.' Defense officials did not respond to a request for comment on a Financial Times report that the task group from China's military, the People's Liberation Army, was 150 nautical miles (278 kilometers) east of Sydney. 'There is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event,' Marles told Sky News television. Australia says Chinese warships entitled to deploy off Australian coast Marles said Australian navy ships and air force planes were monitoring the Chinese ships' movements through international waters that are in Australia's exclusive economic zone, the area beyond its territorial waters where a nation has exclusive economic rights. 'They're entitled to be where they are; Australia is also entitled to be prudent and we are monitoring very closely what the activities of the task group are,' Marles told reporters. 'What we will do whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group is engage in a full assessment of what the Chinese were seeking to achieve in respect of this mission,' he added. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked at a media briefing on Wednesday about the Chinese warships' location and replied he was not aware of the situation. The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Australia engages with Papua New Guinea and New Zealand over Chinese warships Marles said Australia had engaged with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea over its response because the Chinese had traveled around the South Pacific island nation's coast on their way to Australia's exclusive economic zone. Australia was also 'working very closely' with New Zealand, which is separated from the Australian east coast by the Tasman Sea, he said. New Zealand's military was also monitoring the Chinese ships 'in coordination with Australia,' New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. 'We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this task group has been deployed into our region, and we have not been informed what its future plans are,' she added. 'We will continue to monitor these vessels.' She did not specify how the New Zealand military would monitor the Chinese shipping. Experts says China's navy is projecting power around the world Jennifer Parker, an expert associate of Australia's National Security College and a former Australian naval officer, said Chinese warships rarely traveled so far south along the nation's east coast. 'This is part of a broader power projection from the PLA-Navy and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean,' Parker said. The Chinese deployment comes as the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo visits Australia this week. Parker said the timing was likely coincidental given the Chinese deployment would have been planned well in advance and the United States doesn't release information about their senior officers' 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. ___
