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A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Defense has said that their current maritime activity has no intended target, amid concern about a People’s Liberation Army Navy taskforce making its way south.
A senior member of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) revealed that the naval task group that has been making its way down through the Indo-Pacific is not targeting any specific country, government or entity.
“The Chinese naval task group’s far-sea training complies with international law and practice, and does not target any specific country or entity,” said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s MND.
The statement comes in response to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) revealing that they are monitoring the flotilla that is currently operating approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told reporters at a press conference that the vessel’s destination and purpose is unconfirmed, and its current position in the Philippines Sea does not confirm or rule out Australia as the intended destination.
“We maintain a constant maritime domain awareness in our geographic areas of interest. That’s south-east Asia, north-east Asia, the north-east Indian Ocean and the Pacific. And in that context, we will routinely monitor the movements of PLA vessels,” Minister Marles said.
“But we continue to monitor it as we monitor all movements until we know that the task groups are not coming to Australia.”
Naval security expert Jennifer Parker told The Australian Financial Review that China’s statement represents their aim to “normalise” their naval operations while remaining in the bounds of international law.
“The response also shows a desire to normalise China’s increased deployments beyond the first island chain, which are, of course, consistent with international law but represent a significant change in the region,” Parker said.
On 7 December, Minister Marles responded to questions on China’s military and maritime activity at a Tokyo press conference, saying: “Maintenance of the global rules‑based order in the Indo‑Pacific – ideas like freedom of navigation and the assertion of the UN Convention and the Law of the Sea – all of this goes to the heart of Australia’s national interest.”
“We will be very clear with China that in all that we are seeking to do, our only aim is to assert the rules‑based order, to promote the peace and stability of the Indo‑Pacific region,” Marles added.
