MKsports Type 055 large destroyer Zunyiof the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy carries out air defense and sea assault exercises in the South China Sea in November 2023. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-23/6efe765f-1a5f-4f86-be77-0a6fdeec7040.jpeg" />

The Type 055 large destroyer Zunyiof the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy carries out air defense and sea assault exercises in the South China Sea in November 2023. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

Recently, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet conducted far-sea combat training exercises in the Pacific Ocean. During the exercises, the Chinese side organized live-fire training after issuing repeated safety notices in advance. These actions fully comply with international law and customary international practices and pose no threat to aviation safety.

However, countries like Australia and New Zealand, while acknowledging that China's exercises were conducted in accordance with international law and posed no threat to their safety, have criticized the Chinese Navy's drills as "lacking transparency." Without timely communication with China or a clear understanding of the facts, the Australian air traffic control agency hastily issued "warnings," instructing certain airlines to adjust flight plans and advising some flights to alter their routes.

In fact, Australia and New Zealand have been monitoring the activities of the three-ship Chinese naval fleet, paying close attention from the outset. However, China's naval exercises were conducted entirely in international waters, adhering to safe, standardized, and professional protocols. On one hand, both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recognized that China acted in accordance with international law on Saturday. On the other hand, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins expressed "concern," describing the Chinese Navy's operations as "unusual" and "disconcerting." Some Western media have seized this opportunity to propagate the "China threat" narrative, cautioning against China's naval activities.

The recent Chinese naval exercises aimed to assess and enhance the fleet's coordinated combat capabilities under complex maritime and aerial conditions, honing their proficiency through live-force, real-combat drills. The Type 055 large destroyer Zunyi, part of the formation, represents a new quality combating force in the PLA Navy and has undertaken multiple open-sea operational training missions.

In recent years, the Chinese Navy's expansion into distant seas to fulfill its sacred duties of safeguarding peace, protecting national interests, and ensuring the security of maritime routes has become routine. The international community is gradually becoming accustomed to and accepting this development, with many welcoming China's efforts to ensure safety in international waters.

In contrast, the US and other Western nations, aiming to maintain and strengthen their regional and global hegemony, are vigorously advancing the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" designed to contain, undermine, and threaten China's peaceful development. For a long time, certain countries have deployed military forces around China, with their warships and aircraft frequently conducting close-in reconnaissance to gather intelligence. US vessels repeatedly enter China's territorial waters in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits under the pretext of "freedom of navigation," flaunting military might and provoking disturbances.

After the Cold War ended, Australia positioned itself as an important military ally of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. For many years, Australia has participated in the US strategy against China, even repeatedly playing the role of a pawn. It has sent warships and aircraft to provoke activities in China's East China Sea, Taiwan Straits, South China Sea, and other areas. In defense of national sovereignty and territorial security, China has in response consistently taken firm actions and countermeasures.

On the one hand, Australia acts as an accomplice in the US' anti-China strategy, repeatedly violating China's territorial waters and airspace; on the other hand, it hypocritically criticizes China's legitimate actions and expresses "concern" about China's naval operations. This double standard does not contribute to maintaining regional stability and peace.

On February 17, the 23rd China-Australia Defense Strategic Dialogue was held in Beijing. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, regional security and other issues of common concern, and agreed to continue strengthening strategic communication in the defense field, properly handle disputes and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation.

Maintaining regular communication between the Chinese and Australian military forces will help strengthen strategic mutual trust, clarify facts, and prevent misjudgments. As significant nations in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Australia bear important responsibilities in achieving regional stability and peace. The two militaries have both the necessity and capability to collaborate, jointly promoting regional stability. However, this requires Australia to approach China and China-Australia relations with a factual and constructive mind-set, which is especially crucial given the increasing uncertainties in global affairs.

The author is professor and executive director of the Asia Pacific Studies Centre, East China Normal University. [email protected]