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China Expands Naval Operations, Circling Australia for Nearly a Month, Conducting Live-Fire Drills and Forcing Civilian Flights to Reroute

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Updated Mar 13, 2025, 07:21 AM

China is intensifying its maritime operations in the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions, engaging in seabed mapping and military exercises that have raised security concerns among neighboring countries. The Indian Ocean holds 40% of the world's offshore oil and is home to four critical maritime chokepoints, making it a focal point of economic and military competition between China and India. Recently, a flotilla of three Chinese naval vessels has been circling Australia for nearly a month, entering and exiting its exclusive economic zone while conducting live-fire drills. This activity has forced civilian flights to reroute and has been described as unprecedented for the Chinese navy, marking its most southern deployment. The Chinese government is reportedly mapping the ocean floor to gather intelligence that supports submarine detection, deep-sea mining, and naval expansion, prompting fears from U.S. allies, including Japan and India, about the implications for regional security.

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#China #Indian Ocean #India #Chinese #Australia #Chinese navy #Japan

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Sources

wsj.com(5)bloomberg.com(2)cn.nytimes.com nytimes.com

纽约时报中文网

@nytchinese

A Chinese naval fleet sails around mainland Australia without prior notice. This is the southernmost point ever reached by the Chinese Navy. Although this act fully complies with international law, it still makes Australia deeply uneasy. “The Chinese are embarrassing us in our own backyard,” said Marcus Heller, an expert who studies military spending and capabilities. https://t.co/oCtxrOx3eQ

Helen Raleigh

@HRaleighspeaks

Related to my piece today, the @WSJ reports that "China Is Mapping the Seabed to Unlock New Edge in Warfare" https://t.co/EPOoLRZxlC https://t.co/kHWnBHMGpB