Chinese naval vessels, potentially accompanied by a nuclear submarine, are reportedly navigating through the Great Australian Bight, according to the Australian defense force’s chief, Admiral David Johnston. Johnston spoke about the situation before Senate estimates, explaining that the Australian Defense Force had been monitoring three People’s Liberation Army-Navy ships since they entered Australian waters from southeast Asia last week. Initially, the ADF was unaware of a live-fire drill conducted by the vessels in the Tasman Sea on Friday until a civilian aircraft warned them, 30 minutes after the exercise had commenced. The vessels, consisting of the frigate Hengyang, the cruiser Zunyi, and the replenishment vessel Weishanhu, are currently 250km south of Hobart, inside Australia’s exclusive economic zone, and are moving southwest. Although the live-fire drill occurred in international waters, and in accordance with international law, there was a lack of advance notice, which defense officials deemed potentially dangerous. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that both civilian and military notifications about the live-fire exercise occurred simultaneously. The opposition criticized the government’s handling of the situation, accusing it of not providing clear answers about what the government knew and when. Shadow Minister for Defense, Andrew Hastie, commented that China’s military buildup is the largest since 1945, and suspected that China is seeking to assert its status as a global military power.

Key Points:

• Chinese Naval Vessels: Three People’s Liberation Army-Navy ships and potentially a nuclear submarine are sailing through the Great Australian Bight.
• Monitoring: The ADF began tracking the ships after they entered Australian waters from southeast Asia.
• Live-Fire Drill: ADF was notified 30 minutes after a live-fire drill started in the Tasman Sea, initially unaware of the exercise.
• Location: The ships are currently south of Hobart, inside Australia’s exclusive economic zone, moving southwest.
• Potential Danger: The lack of notice for the live-fire drill raised concerns about safety risks to aircraft and vessels in the area.
• Government Response: Prime Minister Albanese defended the government’s response to notifications about the event.
• Opposition Criticism: The opposition accused the government of lacking transparency and clear communication.
• Geopolitical Context: Shadow Minister Andrew Hastie highlighted China’s significant military buildup and its potential implications for US allies and global power dynamics.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/26/adf-australia-china-navy-live-fire-excercise