"Australian Freedom of Navigation Exercise" Topic

Looks like the Australian Navy is/was conducting a Freedom of Navigation Exercise in the South China Sea, near the Spratley Islands:

link

It's good to see other nations conducting these in the region vs. China's groundless claims.

Looks like they sent quite a decent sized force through the region.

We will not be cowed into a corner by China intimidating our SE Asian friends and allies. The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei all have fishing and other rights in this waterway and South Korea, Japan and Taiwan all have a right to use this waterway to draw their supply lines to oil from the Gulf or trade with Africa and Europe. If required we will fight to preserve these freedoms and rights. We have done so before and we will again if so tested.

We are happy to trade with China if they choose to obey the international rules for free and fair trade. But
Australia is a democracy where the rule of law is important and the freedom of individual citizens to choose is equally so. We do not agree with the Chinese Communist Party on anything!

+1 nsolomon99.

I've had enough of the CCP bully boys and the fanboys and apologists that we have here for them. About time we pushed back.

+2 korsun0 and nsolomon99

That is good to hear.

We're doing the same, more energetically now, and have been for a while.

I hope the world's citizens sit up, and see the danger China's leaders pose to them.

Australia is a democracy where the rule of law is important and the freedom of individual citizens to choose is equally so. We do not agree with the Chinese Communist Party on anything!!

Though we eagerly turned a blind eye to Chinese Communist Party activities in this country for 20 years.

Indeed to criticise Chinese policy was to open one to accusations of racism and harbouring irrational fears of the "Yellow Peril".

We let the PRC through its many government owned or affiliated companies take over huge chunks of the Australian economy including strategic assets such as ports.

We let CCP affiliated institutions infiltrate universities (Confucian Institutes but also creation of think tanks such as pro-China Australia-China Relations Institute at University of Technology Sydney and headed by former Australian foreign affairs minister Bob Carr (equivalent to US Secretary of State)).

We let CCP's propaganda arm, the United Front, infiltrate Australian society and politics. Indeed most key Chinese community groups are now effectively run by United Front.

We let CCP affiliates donate huge amounts of money to political parties (this has not changed and is still allowed).

Indeed in 2019 the government defended one politician, Gladys Liu, who is a member of a United Front affiliate and who has received massive undeclared Chinese donations and who was trying to assist a Chinese controlled energy company gain access to Australian politicians.

So Australia sabre rattles and squawks but its economy is still dependent on PRC and key institutions are still heavily infiltrated by PRC and there have been no significant attempts to reverse this. Chinese money still flows to politicians on both sides of parliament.

For anyone interested in how deeply ingrained the PRC is in key Australian institutions, please read Professor Clive Hamilton's Silent Invasion.

Oh and Professor Clive Hamilton is no right wing conspiracy theorist – he is a centre left academic at Charles Sturt university.

And a short article detailing just some of the infiltration of Australia by CCP: link

The Australian ships participating are;

HMAS Canberra – Canberra Class – LHD
HMAS Hobart – Hobart Class – DDG
HMAS Stuart – Anzac Class – FFH (Helicopter Frigate)
HMAS Arunta – Anzac Class – FFH
HMAS Sirius -Replenishment Ship

Further to this it appears it was not a US style Freedom of Navigation Operation (ie within 12 miles of Chinese controlled island).

The RAN ships were enroute to Vietnam for an exercise when they were followed and then hailed by Chinese navy. Essentially the RAN was harassed on the open sea.

Article states Australian government has no appetite for FONOPS.

link

This part bodes badly -ie Chinese control of SC Sea is accepted by Australia and others.

It's now widely accepted in Australia and across this region that Beijing has essentially established military control over the vast South China Sea, and efforts to challenge their authority may even work to enforce that view.

I fear if USA doesn't get its house in order including developing and implementing a coherent Asia Pacific strategy, the region will merely accept Chinese dominance and become compliant in PRCs demands.

Chinese warships are made in China. No problems.

Wargamer Blue,

The last time we underestimated an adversary, Pearl Harbour was turned into a charnel house and it took 4 years of warfare and a couple of nuclear weapons to stop them.

And I will note the ANZAC class frigates are under gunned and the Canberra LHD a big gigantic floating target equipped with a mere 4 25mm cannons for defence (it's meant to get Phalanx CIWS but number to be installed is not confirmed and it is unclear if these will part replace the 25mm cannons).

Thanks for the listing of the RAN vessels, and info on their cruise, e.g. not a FONOPS exercise. Looks like they are slated to join the USN and JN at some point in the future, according to the original link.

Actually, we've (the USN) already developed a strategy and policy, though getting Asian nations to sign on has proved to be a bit challenging.

Hmmmm, without CIWS, and/or the RAM missile launchers, it does appear that the LHD is a sitting duck.