Australia and New Zealand are closely monitoring a Chinese naval task force’s presence in the Tasman Sea, venting concern over the ships ‘ strange presence in unusually southern waters.
The Taiwanese fleet, comprising a Renhai-class cruiser, a frigate and a supply ship, was first spotted next week near Australia’s northern shores, eventually moving 150 coastal miles west of Sydney, outside regional waters but within its exclusive economic zone, as reported by The Financial Times.
Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, mentioned that while the Chinese vessels were operating within legitimate limits, their actions were closely watched.
In a television interview, Marles said,” We are keeping close watch on them, and we will be making sure that we watch every move.” He noted that while there are some similarities between Chinese naval presence and regional marine presence, these types of vessels often travel this far north.
Judith Collins, the defense secretary of New Zealand, expressed her fears about the Chinese government’s unwillingness to share information about the mission’s goals and plans for the future. According to The New Zealand Herald, Collins told reporters in Wellington,” We have not been informed by the Chinese government why this activity group has been deployed into our place, and we have not been informed what its future strategies are.”
One of the boats, the Zunyi, is a Renhai-class ship described by the US Naval Institute as “among the most fearsome ships afloat”. According to Collin Koh, a senior colleague at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the presence of such a strongly armored vehicle suggests China is demonstrating its maritime might.
According to The New York Times, Koh said,” It’s meant to indicate to Australia and the US that the PLA Navy is not going to remain constrained in actions and activities.”
A Taiwanese fighter jet and an American surveillance aircraft engaged in a tense face last week over the South China Sea. The American military troops accused China of “unsafe and disrespectful” conduct, while China claimed Australia was engaging in offense.
Judith Collins attributed the launch of an international nuclear missile to China in September, which landed in the Pacific Ocean, and it was a step that contributed to growing regional conflicts.
China’s movements may serve as an intelligence-gathering procedure or a warning to Australia about its growing naval reputation, according to maritime surveillance expert Bec Strating of La Trobe University.
What is the Chinese army doing in the north of China? That is the factor causing stress. Is this knowledge meeting? Is this merely a way to let Australia know that the Chinese can also have marine presence in these places? The New York Times quoted Strating.
Australia and New Zealand’s answer
The ships are being monitored by the American military power from the air and at sea, while New Zealand has deployed its defense to coordinate monitoring efforts with Australia.
According to a statement from a spokeswoman for Australia’s defense office, Australia respects the freedoms of all states to conduct business in international waters, but it continues to be careful about China’s expanding maritime reach.
According to the director,” Australia respects the rights of all states to practice freedom of navigation and overflight in foreign waters and aircraft, in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
The Chinese marine activity group’s current location and duration of its presence in the Tasman Sea are still a mystery. Similar operations have previously been described as “far-sea fight training” in the Pacific Ocean by Chinese state advertising.
New Zealand’s Judith Collins described the presence of highly competent Chinese warships so far south as a” important” growth, adding that both Australia and New Zealand did remain joint monitoring efforts.
