Chinese Navy Ships Sail Around Australia, Causing Worry

Chinese navy ships recently sailed all around Australia for about a month. They did some exercises in the sea. Australia and New Zealand watched the ships closely and are talking about safety in the area.
By Newsroom | World News, Asia-Pacific |

A Chinese naval flotilla has completed a month-long journey around Australia, entering the nation's exclusive economic zone on multiple occasions and conducting live-fire exercises. The deployment, which saw Chinese warships operating in seas between Australia and New Zealand, has prompted close monitoring by Australian and New Zealand defense forces. While China maintains its actions were lawful, the nature and proximity of the exercises have sparked debate about regional security and China's growing naval capabilities. The operation concluded with the task force heading westward along Australia's southern coast, effectively circumnavigating the continent.

Background of the Deployment

The Chinese naval task force, consisting of the destroyer CNS Zunyi, the frigate CNS Hengyang, and the replenishment vessel CNS Weishanhu, began its operations in February 2025. The flotilla was first detected in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia.

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  • February 12: The Zunyi and Weishanhu conducted a replenishment at sea.

  • February 13-14: The Weishanhu rendezvoused with the Hengyang in the Coral Sea, while the Zunyi remained further north.

  • February 15: Australia's HMAS Arunta was observed shadowing the Weishanhu and Hengyang in the Tasman Sea and later in the Coral Sea.

  • February 21: Chinese warships broadcast a warning on international radio frequencies, advising aircraft to stay away from an area 640km from Sydney due to planned naval gunnery exercises.

  • February 23: A second live-fire exercise was reportedly conducted slightly closer to New Zealand.

  • February 25: The Chinese ships were tracked operating approximately 296 kilometers east of Hobart, Tasmania, re-entering Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

  • Late February: The flotilla was in the Great Australian Bight, off Australia's southern coastline.

  • March 2025: The task force was observed on its northward voyage along Australia's west coast, facing the Indian Ocean.

Live-Fire Exercises and Notification Disputes

A key point of contention has been the timing and communication surrounding live-fire drills conducted by the Chinese flotilla in the Tasman Sea.

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Chinese flotilla sailed to edge of Australia's exclusive economic zone, says chief - 1

  • Reported Drills: Estimates indicate that the Chinese flotilla conducted two live-fire drills on Friday and Saturday of the week of February 20, 2025.

  • Notification Timeline:

  • Australia's Defense Minister, Richard Marles, stated that Australia was keeping a close watch and would assess the mission.

  • The New Zealand Navy, which was shadowing the Chinese flotilla, informed Australia of the live-fire exercise through military channels. However, estimates suggest this notification occurred nearly 40 minutes after the drills had started.

  • Commercial airline pilots flying over the Tasman Sea reported monitoring radio communications from Chinese warships to military surveillance aircraft as far back as a week prior to February 25, warning of possible live-firing activity.

  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted that civilian and military notifications were contemporaneous.

  • Chinese Response: The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, stated that the naval certification advice was appropriate based on the nature, size, and scope of the drills. China's Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Wu Qian, asserted that the actions were fully in line with international law.

Australia and New Zealand Response

Both Australia and New Zealand have been actively monitoring the Chinese naval movements.

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  • Australian Monitoring: The Australian Defense Department confirmed its military was monitoring the CNS Zunyi, CNS Hengyang, and CNS Weishanhu. Defense Minister Richard Marles stated the Chinese task group was complying with international law.

  • New Zealand Involvement: The New Zealand Defense Force has been working with its Australian counterparts, assisting in tracking the Chinese ships with its own ships and aircraft.

  • Stated Positions:

  • An Australian Defense Department spokesperson told Newsweek, "Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace, under international law, particularly the [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea."

  • Stephen Hoadley, a retired international relations professor, suggested that over-reacting could be counterproductive and give China satisfaction.

Interpretations of the Deployment

The motivations and implications of the Chinese naval deployment have been subject to varied interpretations.

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  • Provocative Action: Australia's intelligence chief suggested the deployment was designed to be "provocative."

  • Shaping Public Opinion: The Australian Institute of International Affairs posits that the effect of the Chinese expedition was an exercise in shaping Australian public opinion, noting a "hysterical" reaction within Australian society.

  • Demonstration of Capability: The deployment has been seen as a demonstration of China's increasingly blue-water capable navy. Retired People’s Liberation Army Senior Colonel Zhou Bo questioned why Australian ships sail so close to Chinese shores.

  • "Awful but Lawful": The Lowy Institute described the operations as "awful but lawful," acknowledging that under international law, China was fully entitled to conduct military operations, including live-fire exercises, on the high seas.

  • Naval Analyst's View: Alex Luck, an Australia-based naval analyst, noted that the deployment emphasizes Beijing's ability to carry out naval operations close to states that conduct similar operations around China.

  • Chinese Ambassador's Stance: Xiao Qian, the Chinese ambassador to Australia, stated that it is normal for China to "flex naval muscles" near the Australian coast, given its regional status as a major power.

Chinese Naval Capabilities and Future Implications

The circumnavigation highlights China's expanding naval reach and its capacity for prolonged operations far from its shores.

  • Blue-Water Capability: The expedition underscored China’s growing ability to project power in blue-water environments.

  • Potential Coercive Power: Over the longer term, China's rising naval power could potentially threaten Australia's maritime access to markets and resources, granting direct coercive power over Australia's economic well-being.

  • US Submarine Presence: The deployment coincided with the arrival of an advanced U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, USS Minnesota, at an Australian naval base, a visit framed as progress towards establishing Australia's own conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine force.

  • Suspected Submarine Support: Defense officials suspect a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine may have accompanied the flotilla.

The Chinese naval task group remained outside Australian territorial waters (12 nautical miles from its coastline) during this deployment. The duration and future actions of Chinese naval task groups near Australia remain subject to observation.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the Chinese navy ships do?
Three Chinese navy ships sailed around Australia for about a month. They did some training and exercises in the sea.
Q: Did the ships enter Australian waters?
The ships stayed outside of Australia's main territorial waters, which are 12 nautical miles from the coast.
Q: Why are Australia and New Zealand worried?
They are watching China's growing navy and want to understand its actions in the region. They also had questions about how much notice they got for the exercises.
Q: What did China say?
China said its actions were lawful and followed international rules. They said it is normal for a big country to show its naval strength.
Q: Did the ships do any shooting?
Yes, the ships did live-fire exercises in the sea. There was some confusion about how much warning was given before these exercises.