Simulations bring to light hostile scenarios

CAIRNS’S credentials for hosting large-scale defence training activities have been shown in emphatic fashion.

An exercise featuring navy ship HMAS Toowoomba, a Japanese aircraft and a Queensland Police boat was held in Trinity Inlet on Saturday morning.

The event formed part of Exercise Pacific Protector 2017, a four-day training initiative focusing on “the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials”.

The Trinity Inlet simulation exercise involved the tracking of a ship – in this case the Queensland Police vessel – suspected of carrying materials for such weapons.

Exercise Pacific Protector 2017 has been dubbed a “flagship event” of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a global effort aimed at countering the “WMD-related trade”.

It comes amid growing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear missile capabilities.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said Australia took its security responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific region “very seriously”.

“We need look no further than North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs to understand the consequenAFTER ces of failing to prevent proliferation activities,” she said.

“Pyongyang’s provocative and dangerous behaviour in continuing to test nuclear weapons only serves to heighten our sense of purpose in stopping proliferation.

“The Australian Government is very pleased to be working with our regional PSI partners to enhance our ability to conduct and co-ordinate counter-proliferation operations.

“Trade security is a vital concern in the Indo-Pacific, given that the region hosts major trade routes, transhipment hubs and ever increasing volumes of global of trade.

“Exercise Pacific Protector 2017 sends a clear signal to all proliferators that their activities are being monitored and that PSI participants are prepared to take action to stop them by enforcing national and international law.”

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United States and Japan were among the 20 nations taking part in the training exercise.

Exercise Pacific Protector 2017 was held from Wednesday to Saturday last week .

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ACTION: Royal Australian Navy, boarding party personnel demonstrate a search of a simulated suspect vessel during the live exercise demonstration on Saturday at the Proliferation Security Initiative, Exercise Pacific Protector.

SAFETY: Philippines Army members took part.