Rising tensions: Expect more of our warships, China tells Australia

China has informed the Australian government to expect more visits from its warships amid the ongoing political standoff between Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and China.

The situation follows live-fire exercises conducted by a People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) taskforce in the Tasman Sea just over a week ago.

Beijing reassures that its navy poses “ no threat” while outlining plans for more naval deployments near Australia.

Both New Zealand and Australia condemn the live-fire exercises held on 21-22 February.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Defence Minister Judith Collins maintain that Wellington had no prior knowledge of the Chinese military operation.

Collins expresses disappointment over Beijing’s failure to inform Wellington about the arrival of a “highly capable” strike force with considerable firepower along Australia’s east coast.

Luxon and Collins’ Australian counterparts, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles, also criticise China for not providing “sufficient notice” on the live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea.

In response, the Chinese government accuses Australia of “hyping up” the live military drills.

A spokesperson from the Chinese Defence Ministry claims they notified Canberra, saying, “During the period, China organised live-fire training of naval guns towards the sea on the basis of repeatedly issuing prior safety notices.”

China’s destroyer Hefei. Photo/Supplied

Speaking publicly for the first time since the taskforce’s arrival in the Tasman Sea, Chinese envoy Xiao Qian says, “It's normal" for a major power to deploy naval assets around the world.

Ambassador Xiao insists China has no reason to "pose a threat to Australia" because both countries remain "strategic partners".

He defends the PLA-N’s actions, saying they do not owe an apology for the live-fire drills on 21-22 February, which Australia claims disrupted many of its commercial flights.

Xiao says international law does not specify how much advance warning is necessary.

"I don't see there's any reason why the Chinese side should feel sorry about that, or even to think about to apologise for that," he says in an interview with the ABC while visiting Hobart in Tasmania.

"The vessels conducted drills in a way that is in compliance with international law and international practice. They did make prior notification to the public in a way that is in accordance with international practices.”

Watch international relations expert from Canterbury University, Professor Anne-Marie Brady's interview on Pacific Mornings.

Ambassador Xiao refrains from directly commenting on whether the deployment of the "pretty disciplined" PLA-N taskforce aims to send a message to Australia over its navigation exercises in the South China Sea.

"I think our naval vessels (are) present in this part of the world, just like they're present in many other parts of the world.”

Xiao says these deployments are “standard practice for many navies” and urges caution when interpreting them.

When questioned about the timing of the three warships’ arrival just before Australia's federal election, he says Beijing does "not interfere" with foreign democratic processes.

"As a major power in this region, as a country that has so many things to look after, it is normal for China to send their vessels to different parts of the region to conduct various kinds of activities," he tells the ABC.

The live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea follow another incident in which a Chinese Air Force J-16 fighter jet releases flares 30 metres from an Australian P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft in the South China Sea.

New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have criticised China's actions. Photo/file

Australia’s Department of Defence criticises the interaction as “unsafe and unprofessional”.

The flare release, reported on 13 February, is the fifth known incident of unsafe behaviour by the Chinese military towards the Australian Defence Force since 2022.

Analysts warn that these military interactions with China are now becoming increasingly routine.

Reports by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute reveal that China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and beyond make it much harder for the Albanese government to stabilise its relationship with Beijing, particularly under its strategy of ‘cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest’.

The reports reiterate the importance of caution in how current and future Australian governments approach their relationship with China.

Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles urges citizens to take a “deep breath” over the PLA-N task group, which officials are tracking as it heads west along the southern coastline.

Two sailors aboard the guided-missile frigate Dali (Hull 553) during an emergency supply training exercise on 1 February, 2025. Photo/eng.chinamil.com.cn

Australia's Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty told Parliament last week that he expects more frequent visits by Chinese warships in the coming years as Beijing solidifies its naval power and asserts its maritime interests globally.

As China and the United States compete for influence in the Pacific region, a vast network of security, policing, and defence agreements develops between the island countries and their foreign partners, raising concerns about the militarisation of the region.

Only three Pacific nations - PNG, Fiji, and Tonga - have their own militaries.

In 1951, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States signed the ANZUS Treaty to protect the security of the Pacific.

A report released in July 2024 by the Guardian reveals more than 60 agreements and initiatives, including infrastructure and equipment deals, to support defence and policing in the region.

The Guardian’s analysis shows that Australia remains the dominant partner in the Pacific, accounting for over half the deals identified, followed by New Zealand, the US, China, and the United Kingdom.

Watch Will's Word below: Why is China flexing its military might in the Tasman Sea?

China has policing, defence, and security pacts with Fiji, Kiribati, Sāmoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The US has similar agreements with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Sāmoa, the Solomons, and Tonga.

While China does not have formal policing or security agreements with most of the Pacific nations, the report reveals that these island states regularly seek advice from Chinese embassy officials, especially on how to deal with emerging crimes such as money laundering, illegal migration, and prostitution, which are growing issues in the region.