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.
The voyage began on February 11 with just one warship, but the vessel was quickly joined by two more.
Three warships sailed together along the Australian coastline, navigating through Australia’s exclusive economic zone and approaching as close as 170 nautical miles to Perth.
On February 21 China launched live-fire drills just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney.
Reports indicated that the vessels were observed altering their formation, executing maneuvers with a floating target, and readjusting positions in a manner resembling a live-fire exercise, as per ABC News.
Australian officials were taken aback by these drills as they were reportedly unaware of the military activities until commercial pilots, who had to change their flight routes, informed them.
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.
