Chinese Warships Begin Military Exercises at Sea
World
Chinese warships have conducted military exercises in the sea between Australia and New Zealand, forcing commercial flights to change their routes. The Chinese navy informed the Australian Department of Defence before the drill took place on Friday.
China's naval task force, known as Taskgroup 107, notified Australia on Friday about the planned live-fire exercises. The warship group was monitored by a New Zealand navy vessel. During the exercise, the ships changed formation, placed a target in the water, maneuvered again, and then retrieved the target. No live fire was observed, but the movements were consistent with a combat drill, The Guardian reports.
Three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) vessels—the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment ship Weishanhu—are currently positioned about 340 nautical miles off Eden, on the southern coast of New South Wales, in international waters. The drill was conducted in accordance with international law.
At least three commercial flights changed their course.
Opposition defense spokesperson Andrew Hastie accused the Chinese government of engaging in "gunboat diplomacy" and blamed the "provocation" on the prime minister's weakness.
"For two and a half years, Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles have refused to stand up for Australian Defence Force personnel. The Australian people deserve to know what is happening, and they deserve better leadership than our weak prime minister," he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC television that the presence of Chinese warships near Australian waters was an evolving situation but confirmed that combat exercises had taken place.
"We will discuss this issue with the Chinese, and we have already engaged at an official level regarding notification and transparency in relation to these exercises, particularly live-fire drills," she said.
She noted that the Australian military was "closely monitoring" the Chinese naval group but acknowledged that they were operating in international waters.
According to previous reports in Chinese media, the PLA-Navy's frigate, cruiser, and replenishment vessel conducted "real-combat" exercises in an unspecified part of the Pacific Ocean last month.
Three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) vessels—the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment ship Weishanhu—are currently positioned about 340 nautical miles off Eden, on the southern coast of New South Wales, in international waters. The drill was conducted in accordance with international law.
At least three commercial flights changed their course.
Opposition defense spokesperson Andrew Hastie accused the Chinese government of engaging in "gunboat diplomacy" and blamed the "provocation" on the prime minister's weakness.
"For two and a half years, Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles have refused to stand up for Australian Defence Force personnel. The Australian people deserve to know what is happening, and they deserve better leadership than our weak prime minister," he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC television that the presence of Chinese warships near Australian waters was an evolving situation but confirmed that combat exercises had taken place.
"We will discuss this issue with the Chinese, and we have already engaged at an official level regarding notification and transparency in relation to these exercises, particularly live-fire drills," she said.
She noted that the Australian military was "closely monitoring" the Chinese naval group but acknowledged that they were operating in international waters.
According to previous reports in Chinese media, the PLA-Navy's frigate, cruiser, and replenishment vessel conducted "real-combat" exercises in an unspecified part of the Pacific Ocean last month.
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