China steps up military presence north of Australia with warships north of PNG and Singapore exercises

China is flexing its growing military power with a series of defence exercises and deployments across southeast Asia, while Australia continues to monitor a high-powered People’s Liberation Army-Navy taskforce north of Papua New Guinea.

According to official information released by various governments, as well as commercial satellite imagery, there were at least seven groups of Chinese warships operating across the western Pacific at the beginning of the week.

Last week Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed Australia was tracking several Chinese warships in the Philippines Sea, but the Government has not released any further information about their movements since.

On Sunday another PLA-Navy Task Group, which is currently on a far-sea comprehensive training mission, arrived in Jakarta to begin a four-day “friendly” visit to Indonesia.

Beijing’s Ministry of National Defence said that during the stopover commanding Chinese officers would meet counterparts from the Indonesian Navy, and sailors from both sides will hold sports activities.

“This is the first visit of the Chinese naval task group’s amphibious dock landing ship Changbaishan (Hull 989) and comprehensive training vessel Xiangqianjin-1 (Hull 88) to Indonesia, and the 4th visit of training vessel Zheng He (Hull 81) to Indonesia.”

Earlier this week Beijing’s military also announced a Y-20 transport aircraft carrying Chinese troops had arrived at Singapore’s Changi Air Base for joint army cooperation exercises.

“It marks the seventh event of the series of Exercise Cooperation joint army training held by the Chinese and Singaporean armies,” the Chinese National Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“With the theme of ‘Joint Counter Terrorism Operations in Urban Environment’, the joint training aims to enhance the collaborative capabilities of the two militaries in joint counter-terrorism operations.”

“Over the next ten days, the two sides will conduct all-round exchanges in operational command, tactics application, and logistic support during urban counter-terrorism operations, by means of mixed-group training, joint command and coordinated actions.

“Together, they will explore new tactics and approaches for modern urban counter-terrorism operations and jointly enhance their capabilities to address non-traditional security threats,” the Ministry said.

Chief-of-Staff of Singapore’s 3rd Division, Colonel Yow Thiam Poh, said the Exercise Cooperation “demonstrates the warm and friendly defence ties between Singapore and China”.

“It builds mutual trust between the People’s Liberation Army and the Singapore Army and allows our people from both sides to strengthen relationships and build bonds,” he added.

In early December the 47th Chinese naval escort taskforce also arrived in Singapore for a four-day “technical stop”, with its warships docking at the pier of the Changi Naval Base, marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries.

“During the technical stop, the staff from the Chinese Embassy in Singapore will board the vessels for a tour, and the commanding officers of Chinese naval taskforce will pay a visit to the fleet commander of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),” a Chinese government statement said.

This week New Zealand revealed that its largest naval ship, HMNZS Aotearoa, was closely shadowed by seven Chinese warships while helping enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea in the East China and Yellow Seas last month.

New Zealand’s defence force said the warships kept a “safe and professional distance” from its replenishment vessel as it operated alongside ships from Canada, France, and Japan.

The same naval vessel also encountered a Taiwanese warship as it sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait during November.

Last week Defence Chief David Johnston confirmed an Australian P-8 surveillance plane had observed the Chinese task group operating in the Philippine Sea, approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau.

“I have previously stated that we have seen a greater PLA Navy presence in our immediate region in recent years, and we do expect to see future PLA in extended area deployments,” Admiral Johnston told a senate estimates hearing in Canberra.