Australia, us and allies opened large-scale war games on Wednesday, as a Chinese surveillance vessel travelled south to watch the exercises.
More than 17,000 troops from the 2 allied nations will participate in Talisman Sabre, which is held every two years in Australia, from July 14 to 31.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said a Chinese naval intelligence ship was approaching Australia’s populated East Coast, saying it had been a “reminder of the ever-present PLA (People’s Liberation Army)” within the region.
Beijing sent similar vessels to watch Talisman Sabre in 2019 and 2017, local media reported.
“We’ve seen in previous operations the Chinese have a presence and that we are monitoring that for a few time,” Dutton told reporters.
“We obviously expect they operate consistent with the law of nations, and that we would expect nothing less if we were traversing through the high sea on the brink of China also .” Australia’s defence said the exercises, which can largely be persisted military bases in Queensland state and offshore, were designed to enhance interoperability between the allies.
Britain, Canada, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand also will participate in the exercises while France, Germany, India and Indonesia are sending observers.
