16-07-2025
Defence Minister says China could spy on Aussie ships in days ahead
The Deputy Prime Minister says China is not spying on Australian war drills but could not rule it out from happening in the days ahead.
Richard Marles, who is also the Defence Minister, said on Today that he was certain ongoing Australian war drills were not being spied on 'right now'.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is participating in Talisman Sabre military exercises that include more than 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the US and 19 partner nations.
The exercises began on Sunday and will run until August 4 across Queensland, Western Australia, NSW, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea.
Mr Marles was asked on Today whether he was aware if warships were spying on the war games.
'They're not, but they have in the past,' he said.
'But it might happen over the coming days and weeks. That's what's happening.'
Labor MP Pat Conroy said on Sunday – when he was acting as defence minister – the ADF was prepared for China to observe the military exercises.
'People observe these exercises to collect intelligence around procedures, around the electronic spectrum and the use of communications, and we'll adjust accordingly so that we manage that leakage,' Mr Conroy said.
'I think it'll be a two-way process, but when we conduct these exercises, we're always cognisant that they're being observed by people who want to collect information about how we work with our allies, how we communicate with our allies and partners, and you manage that accordingly in a sensitive way.
'That's what the Australian people would expect our Australian Defence Force to do, and we'll continue to do that.
'But again, I'll say the Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017 and it'd be very unusual if they didn't do that this time.'
Chinese spy ships were spotted at the last Talisman Sabre exercises in 2023.
Mr Marles said the Australian Navy was in the vicinity of China, and the 'fundamental point' was the countries should engage in accordance with the 'rules-based order'.
'The reason we have used that as our baseline is because we are much more often in the vicinity of China than China is in the vicinity of Australia,' he said.
'And the reason for that is because that's where our trade routes are.
'That's where our sea lines of communication are.
