Opposition leader Peter Dutton has said the Prime Minister has “very significant questions to answer” after Chinese ships carried out a live-fire drill off the coast of Australia, amid warnings Beijing wants to “normalise” such behaviour in the future.
Director-General of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer told a parliamentary committee on Monday night that China’s activities off the coast of Australia were “designed to be provocative”.
“Our preliminary view is that the deployment demonstrates China’s growing capability to project military power into our immediate region, now matched by an increasing intent to do so,” Mr Shearer said.
“The largest and least transparent military build-up since the Second World War means the PLA will be able to operate at greater distances from mainland China, in greater numbers, including into Australia’s immediate seas and skies.
“This is the furthest south a PLA-N Task Group has operated and at least some of its activities seem designed to be provocative.
“We judge Beijing intends to normalise this sort of presence, shape the responses of those in the region, and observe and learn from our reactions. “
Mr Shearer’s comments come as the three Chinese warships in question re-enter Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and track towards Tasmania.
The live-fire drills themselves have not been the primary cause for alarm; rather, it was the revelation that little warning was given to the Australian government.
While the Chinese warships did alert aircraft via radio, they failed to notify Defence of their intent to conduct live-fire activities and did not provide any further details.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has repeatedly downplayed the significance of the event, on Wednesday said the Australian Defence Force was alerted to the drills by a New Zealand taskforce “at the same time” Air Services was notified.
He also said Australia had been monitoring the vessels by sea and by air.
Labor has maintained China is not in breach of international laws.
Defence Minister Richard Marles last week said Australians should “remain calm” and the Chinese ships had “every right to be there”.
However, the Opposition leader said the PM’s version of events was at odds with Defence Force Chief David Johnston, who revealed that the Australian military was only informed of the live-firing exercise roughly 40 minutes after it began.
“There are really significant questions that need to be answered here,” Mr Dutton told reporters on Wednesday.
“If there was an incursion across into our waters, and Defence didn’t know about it, or the Defence Minister didn’t know about it – we need to ask those questions and they should be answered.
“Frankly, the Prime Minister should stand up and explain what is a very significant event, but at the moment obviously he hasn’t done that and his story seems to be at odds with the version given by the Chief of Defence Force in estimates.
“These are very serious questions the PM needs to answer.”
Mr Dutton said Australia needs to increase its defence expenditure and invest in measures to deter adverse actions.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Joe Keary echoed Mr Shearer’s assessment on Tuesday, declaring people should “expect China’s military to keep targeting Australia”.
“China will keep conducting dangerous military maneuvers against us and other countries in the South China Sea; its actions will continue to differ from its words; and it is likely to send advanced Chinese warships to our region more often and for longer,” he said.
