China to join naval war games in Australia

SYDNEY: China’s navy will join 26 other nations in military exercises off Australia’s north coast this month, but not livefire drills, Australia’s defence minister said yesterday at a time of strained ties between the two nations.

The naval exercises are being hosted by Australia and will also include its major ally the United States, which expelled China in May from its military training around Hawaii — a response to what it sees as Beijing’s militarisation of islands in the South China Sea.

Ties between Australia and China hit a low after Canberra passed a raft of laws aimed at thwarting Chinese influence in domestic affairs and also frayed over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

Australia has offered diplomatic support to US ‘freedom of navigation’ voyages through the South China Sea, and its own vessels encountered Chinese warships there in April. But Australia stuck with an invitation it issued China last September, a sign analysts say hints at a thawing in relations ahead of the drills that begin at the end of August. “China is expected to participate in a range of activities including passage exercises, inter-ship communications and replenishment activities and sea-training manoeuvres,” Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne said in an emailed statement.

“There are no plans for China to participate in live-fire activities,” she said, without giving a reason, but adding the nations have “built a productive defence relationship that ... facilitates transparency and builds trust”.