Minister Says China Observing Australia's Military Drills Is No Surprise

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Key Points

Talisman Sabre military exercises have begun in Brisbane.
Defence industry minister Pat Conroy says he would expect China to observe them as they have the last four times.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in China for trade and tourism-centred meetings.

Australia’s defence industry minister says he expects China’s military to surveil joint military drills between Australian Defence Force and the United States, as he rebuffed American calls to declare what Australia’s role would be in a potential war with China over Taiwan.

As the Talisman Sabre war-game exercises between Australia and the US begin in Brisbane, Pat Conroy told the ABC’s Insiders program he expects China to monitor the drills, but is not aware of its intelligence services having done so yet.

“It’s our most important bilateral exercise with the United States,” Conroy said of Talisman Sabre.

“It’s not unusual for other countries to observe that. China has observed those exercises for the last four exercises. It won’t be unexpected if they continue to do that.”

A man wearing black glasses and suit with a white shirt and tie standing in front of a black curtain

Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says China has monitored the last four Talisman Sabre military gamesbetween Australia and the US Source: AAP / AAPIMAGE

During Talisman Sabre 30,000 personnel from 19 countries will participate.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual event and is expected to be the largest yet.

Conroy said it would “not be unusual for China to observe” and Australia would “adjust the exercises accordingly”.

Talisman Sabre, a regular wargames exercise between Australia and some allies is set to take place, with the government aware that China is likely to monitor the exercises. Source: AAP / PA/Alamy

“We’ll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia but we’ll also adjust how we conduct the exercises.

“People observe these exercises to collect intelligence around procedures, around the electronic spectrum and the use of communications and we’ll adjust accordingly so that we manage that leakage,” he added.

Australia rejects US call to declare Taiwan war role

Meanwhile, Australia has rebuffed calls to declare what role the nation would play in a potential war with China over Taiwan, with Conroy saying it won’t automatically follow the US into a future conflict.

Washington is reportedly pushing both Japan and Australia to clarify their positions for a hypothetical conflict over the democratically-government island, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Elbridge Colby, a key Pentagon strategist, has been pressing defence officials from both countries to declare their positions in meetings over the issue, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Asked whether Australia would commit to joining the US if it entered a war with China over Taiwanese sovereignty, Conroy ruled out committing to such a conflict ahead of time, reiterating the government’s longstanding position.

“The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance,” he said.

“Sovereignty will always be prioritised.”

Anthony Albanese holds the hand of a young Chinese girl in front of a plane with steps

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China for a six-day visit. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed in Shanghai late Saturday, kicking off a six-day tour which will focus on economic and security issues.

Defence analysts have flagged Albanese will likely raise live-fire drills conducted by the Chinese military off Australia’s coast earlier in the year after Beijing failed to notify authorities ahead of time.

But Conroy would not be drawn on whether Albanese will directly raise those concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two leaders sit down during his second visit as prime minister.

— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press