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The Australian navy is closely monitoring a Chinese naval task group sailing 150 nautical miles east of Sydney—the furthest south the Chinese navy has ventured along Australia’s east coast. Two Australian warships are shadowing the Chinese fleet, which includes two warships and a supply vessel, after it was first spotted off Australia’s north-east coast a week ago.
Experts describe this as an unprecedented move, signaling that Beijing is expanding its military reach beyond the Pacific island chains that traditionally define its area of influence. Analysts warn that China’s growing presence in the region could be aimed at projecting power and subtly reminding Australia of its vulnerability.
The Australian Defence Ministry confirmed the Chinese ships are operating in international waters, emphasizing that while legal, their presence raises concerns about China’s broader ambitions in the Pacific. Military analysts point out that China is competing with Australia and the US for influence in the region, steadily increasing the frequency and scope of its naval operations.
Unlike a coordinated naval visit in 2019, where Chinese ships docked in Sydney with government approval, this deployment appears unsanctioned. The timing is also notable—it coincides with a visit by Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, to Australia, where he met with top Australian defense officials.
Tensions between Canberra and Beijing have been mounting, especially over China’s military activity in the South China Sea. Last week, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed that a Chinese aircraft had fired flares dangerously close to an Australian surveillance plane in the region. Australia has since ordered its navy and air force to intensify surveillance of the Chinese task group, prompting Beijing to accuse Canberra of violating its rights.
As China’s military presence in the Pacific expands, analysts suggest Beijing is applying a double standard—objecting to US and Australian military patrols near Taiwan and the South China Sea, while extending its own operations closer to Australia. With no immediate comments from the Australian Defence Department or China’s Defence Ministry, the situation remains tense, raising questions about how far China will go in asserting its power in the Pacific.
*Source: Financial Times
