A few days ago, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China made headlines after Australia raised concerns about the presence of Chinese vessels near its territorial waters. These ships were conducting a series of exercises that included live-fire drills off the coast in the Tasman Sea. However, it was also reported that these maneuvers were not announced in advance, leading to the diversion of commercial ships and aircraft operating in the area. In this context, Chinese authorities released details about some of the activities carried out by the naval units involved in this long-range deployment.
Marking a significant deployment thousands of kilometers from mainland China, the South Theater Command Navy Task Group was composed of the Type 055 destroyer Zunyi, the Type 054A frigate Hengyang, and the Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu. According to an official report, the exercises lasted several days and included at-sea replenishment operations and live-fire drills. Crews engaged in various activities aimed at enhancing their operational readiness in challenging maritime conditions.
Further details from the report highlight that, as part of the combat capability assessment and coordination within the Task Group, the Zunyi and Hengyang detected an unknown and simulated aerial target, positioning themselves for combat to counter the perceived threat. The Zunyi then activated its close-in defense system, successfully neutralizing the simulated target with a single burst of gunfire. Another phase of the exercise involved detecting and engaging a surface target, which was neutralized using the Hengyang‘s main gun.
Additionally, the Chinese naval formation carried out a standard naval training exercise known as the “Killer Tomato,” a drill commonly performed by other navies. “It is important to clarify that the ‘Tomato,’ which simulates a surface threat, is not meant to be hit; it only serves as a reference for distance and azimuth for gunners,” as previously reported by Zona Militar when observing similar exercises conducted during “Ejercicio Fraterno” between the Argentine and Brazilian navies.
“There is no doubt that this is not an unprecedented event, but it is certainly unusual,” said Defense Minister Richard Marles in an interview with Sky News regarding the arrival of Chinese ships in waters east of Australia. “The Chinese government has not informed us why this task group has been deployed in our region, nor have they disclosed their future plans,” stated New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins in a separate statement.
Finally, experts point out that these long-distance exercises are part of a trend that will be observed more frequently in the coming years, as China aims to strengthen its ability to project naval and air power further from its shores, particularly in the Pacific and other regions of the world. Examples of this include drills with Russia, as well as with countries in Africa and the Middle East.
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