China has deployed three heavily armed warships to the Tasman Sea, marking an unprecedented move by the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N). This deployment, described by Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) Andrew Shearer as "designed to be provocative," represents the furthest south a PLA-N task group has ever operated. The warships, conducting live-firing exercises in busy international airspace, compelled nearly 50 flights to divert due to the hazardous drills.
The exercises highlight China's growing military capability and intent to project power into Australia's immediate region. Defence officials closely tracked the Chinese warships as they operated approximately 160 nautical miles east of Hobart before re-entering Australia's exclusive economic zone on Tuesday. The deployment has been viewed as an attempt by China to "shape" the behaviour of states like Australia.
"China's growing capability to project military power into our immediate region" was "now matched by an increasing intent to do so." – Andrew Shearer
The presence of the Chinese flotilla was not only significant in its operational capacity but also in its strategic implications. Commercial airline pilots flying over the Tasman Sea last week monitored radio communications from the warships to military surveillance aircraft. They reported warnings of possible live-firing activity, with civilian aircraft being told to "go away," according to an international airline pilot who spoke with the ABC.
Defence officials believe a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine likely accompanied the flotilla during its deployment off Australia's coast. The PLA-N flotilla, tracked by Defence officials for weeks, suggests that submarine support may have been part of their operational strategy.
"We judge Beijing intends to normalise this sort of presence, shape the responses of those in the region, and observe and learn from our reactions," – Andrew Shearer
The use of emergency radio frequencies by the warships, first reported by a Virgin Australia pilot, underscores the seriousness of the exercises. This incident emphasized China's increasing intent to assert military power in the region—a capability now supported by substantial military infrastructure.
"The largest and least transparent military build-up since the Second World War will mean the PLA will be able to operate at greater distances from mainland China, in greater numbers, including into Australia's immediate seas and skies," – Andrew Shearer
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