China to Monitor Major Australia-US Military Exercises

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Australia and the United States have just launched their biggest-ever joint military exercise — and it looks like China will be keeping a close eye on it.

Called Exercise Talisman Sabre, the wargames officially begin today, with more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 countries taking part across Queensland and other parts of Australia. This year is the largest edition of the drills so far — and for the first time, parts of the exercise will also take place in Papua New Guinea.

But with all that action, don’t be surprised if Chinese surveillance ships show up offshore.

“It’s kind of expected,” said political editor Charles Croucher. “They’re usually in international waters and legally allowed to be there.”

Federal Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy echoed that sentiment during an interview with the saying it would actually be strange not to see Chinese activity during the drills.

“China has observed the last four Talisman Sabre exercises,” Conroy said. “So it wouldn’t be surprising if they did again.”

He added that Australia will keep an eye on China's movements and adjust the exercises as needed.

The timing of the drills is also interesting — they coincide with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to China, where he’s expected to discuss defence and security issues in a meeting with President Xi Jinping. That meeting comes just months after a Chinese naval flotilla circled Australia and conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea with little advance notice.

Meanwhile, a report from the Pentagon is asking Australia for reassurances about how it would use nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS defence pact, especially if the US goes to war — possibly with China over Taiwan.

When asked about those reports in Shanghai, PM Albanese didn’t go into detail but made Australia’s stance clear:

“Our focus is on advancing peace and security in our region,” he said.

“We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan and don’t support any unilateral actions. Our position has been consistent.”

So, while the exercises may be routine for the military, there’s no doubt that all eyes — including China’s — are watching closely.

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