South China Sea
‘The US severely undermined peace’: China says it ‘drove away’ US warship in South China Sea
The incident comes days after two Chinese ships collided while chasing a Philippine vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
- Reuters and Bloomberg
Latest
Chinese ships smash into each other while chasing Philippine boat, footage shows
A China Coast Guard vessel accidentally rammed into a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship in the South China Sea, resulting in “substantial damage”, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
- Cliff Venzon
- Exclusive
- AUKUS
‘Noticeably fickle’: Trump’s new submarine chief a critic of Australia
Jerry Hendrix, who leads a White House push to build more ships and submarines, has often questioned Australia’s commitment to AUKUS and its readiness to help the US fight China.
- Michael Koziol
‘We’ll determine our defence policy’: PM pushes back on Hegseth pressure over China
Comments from the defence secretary have also drawn a furious response from Beijing, which says the US risks turning the Asia-Pacific region into a “powder keg”.
- Lisa Visentin
- Exclusive
- Defence
Ex-war reporter turned foreign minister leading the charge to keep Russia – and China – in check
At a time when Europe’s leadership has been diffuse and distracted, Radek Sikorski has emerged as one of the West’s most forceful voices.
- Rob Harris
Beijing denounces spy vessel claims as smear campaign
Beijing has rebuffed suggestions that it is seeking to influence the federal election after one of its research vessels travelled past Australia’s southern coast.
- Lisa Visentin
- Opinion
- China relations
Why Chinese warships off the coast were no bad thing for Australia
Many Australians seem to have missed a salient fact – our own navy conducts navigation operations and live firing exercises in the South China Sea.
- Christopher Pyne
- Opinion
- National security
If we panic about these Chinese ships, Xi wins the propaganda war
The arrival of Chinese warships near our coast is not a crisis. Treating it as one – with over-the-top indignation – diminishes our capacity to tackle real crises as the region deteriorates.
- Jennifer Parker
- Opinion
- China relations
‘We’ve been exposed’: China’s ‘act of intimidation’ – and why Australia can’t complain
Listen: International editor Peter Hartcher breaks down how Chinese warships conducted exercises off Australia, and what it says about our defence force.
- Peter Hartcher
- Editorial
- Editorial
Albanese, Dutton must set out clear China policy for public debate
Chinese warships firing live rounds within a few hundred kilometres of Sydney with only a few hours’ notice is a significant escalation in the posturing of that nation’s forces in our region.
- The Age's View