Australian naval exercise includes China
SYDNEY: China’s navy will join 26 countries in military exercises off Australia’s north coast this month, but not livefire drills, Australia’s defence minister says, at a time of strained ties between the two nations.
The naval exercises are being hosted by Australia and will also include major ally the United States, which expelled China in May from its military training around Hawaii — a response to what it calls Beijing’s militarisation of islands in the South China Sea.
Ties between Australia and China hit a low after Canberra passed laws aimed at thwarting Chinese influence in domestic affairs and also 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.
Nevertheless, Australia has stuck with an invitation it issued China last September, a sign analysts say hints at a thawing in relations before the drills that begin at the end of the month.
‘‘China is expected to participate in a range of activities including passage exercises, intership communications and replenishment activities and seatraining manoeuvres,’’ Aus tralian Defence Minister Marise Payne said.
‘‘There are no plans for China to participate in livefire activities,’’ she said, without giving a reason.
The drills will be held in strategic waters north of Darwin, where a decision to lease the city’s port to a Chinese firm drew a sharp rebuke from the United States. They run until midSeptember and involve 27 nations.
China was involved in 2016 drills as an observer. — Reuters