How Chinese PLA’s latest forays off Australia cap years of maritime tensions
Australia’s growing presence in South China Sea and Taiwan Strait seen to underscore commitment to Western aims to curb China’s influence

The United States – Taiwan’s main international backer and arms supplier – has been most active in asserting “freedom of navigation” rights in the strait, with its allies including Australia, Germany and Canada also doing the same in recent years.
Most nations, including Australia and the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Australia does not have any territorial disputes with China, but its expanding naval and air presence in the region is seen to underscore its commitment to freedom of navigation and Indo-Pacific security as the West tries to counter China’s influence.
