Exercise Talisman Sabre draws 35,000 troops from 19 nations amid Chinese surveillance concerns

Australia is currently hosting its largest-ever war fighting drills, featuring exercise Talisman Sabre which kicked off recently. This biennial joint exercise, organized since 2005, brings together over 35,000 military personnel from 19 different countries, including major contributors such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and more. Additionally, Malaysia and Vietnam are attending as observers. The drills are being conducted over the span of three weeks across various locations, with a significant component occurring in Papua New Guinea, marking the first time these exercises have expanded beyond Australian territory. A notable aspect of this exercise is the anticipated monitoring by Chinese surveillance ships. Historically, Chinese naval vessels have observed the last four iterations of Talisman Sabre, beginning this trend in 2017. Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed expectations that Chinese ships would surveil the current exercises, stating that their presence would likely prompt adjustments in how Australia conducts its military operations. As reported, Chinese vessels had not yet begun shadowing the ships involved in the exercise as of the recent official kickoff on Sunday. The commencement ceremony for the exercise was held in Sydney and attended by high-ranking military officials, including the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, Lieutenant General J.B. Vowell, and Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones. The Australian government views Talisman Sabre as a means of reinforcing its defense partnership with the United States. Coinciding with this military initiative, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was conducting a six-day visit to China, during which he was scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time. Although Prime Minister Albanese remarked that the Chinese surveillance of the exercises was not a concern he intended to discuss with President Xi, he emphasized the importance of maintaining Australia's national interests throughout these engagements. His visit reflects a balancing act in relations with China, amidst scrutiny from political opposition at home regarding his engagement with the U.S. and the longing for direct diplomatic communications with U.S. leadership. Thus, Talisman Sabre holds significant implications not only for military cooperation between allies but also for the geopolitical dynamics involving China.