CHINESE warships have encircled Australia in a terrifying new war game, putting Australian forces on high alert.
The fleet has finally completed its voyage around the continent after setting off unannounced nearly a month ago.
AFPA fleet of Chinese warships have encircled Australia[/caption]
AFPAustralian forces watched the fleet as it moved along the Australian coastline[/caption]
The map shows the fleet’s journey around Australia
The voyage began on February 11 with just one warship, but the vessel was quickly joined by two more.
Together the three warships moved along the Australian coastline, sailing in and out of Australia‘s exclusive economic zone and coming within 170 nautical miles of Perth.
On February 21 China launched live-fire drills just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney.
The vessels were reportedly seen changing formation, deploying a floating target, and resetting formations, which resembled a live-fire drill, according to ABC News.
The drills came as a shock to Australian authorities who reportedly only learned about these exercises from surprised commercial pilots who had to divert their flights.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said at the time: “To be clear, we weren’t notified by China.
“What China did was put out a notification that it was intending to engage in live firing.
“By that, I mean a broadcast that was picked up by airlines or literally … commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman.”
The minister explained this was unprecedented because authorities typically give a 12 to 24-hour notice of live-fire drills.
Following the scare, the fleet continued its journey before heading north towards Indonesia on March 7.
Chinese officials have defended themselves and said that they were simply carrying out training in international waters as all navies do.
They added that they had nothing to explain or apologise for.
The voyage is the furthest south the Chinese military has ever come, and has left Australians questioning whether the country can defend itself.
An expert on military spending and capability who previously worked for Australia’s defence department, Marcus Hellyer, said: “The Chinese are showing us up in our own backyard.
“We can’t even sail around our own country. They are really rubbing it in.”
But it’s not only Australia that is victim to these war games.
Xi Jinping‘s military has also increased its naval presence around its neighbours including Taiwan.
China’s President issued a brutal New Year warning to Taiwan as the nation continues its games against the self-ruled province.
Bringing Taiwan back in line with mainland China has been a goal of Xi’s for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force.
A swarm of fighter jets and warships were launched to circle and intimidate the island in October 2024.
A damaged deep-sea cable, off the coast of Taiwan in January, launched fears of potential Chinese sabotage.
A telecommunications cable was also reportedly damaged near Yehliu, New Taipei City.
Officials believed the cable was cut near the busy port of Keelung on Taiwan’s north coast.
APThe fleet launched live-fire drills in February[/caption]
The fleet sailed in and out of Australia’s exclusive economic zoneAP
China’s President Xi Jinping issued a New Year warning to TaiwanReuters Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
