Why China conducted naval drills in waters between Australia and New Zealand – South China Morning Post
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Excerpt:
China recently conducted live-fire military drills in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that these drills, which led to the diversion of 49 commercial flights, were carried out without sufficient prior notification.China’s Type 055 destroyer, one of the most advanced warships in its navy, was reportedly part of the exercise. What was China hoping to achieve with the drills?Since Xi Jinping became China’s president in 2013 and his announcement of plans for a Maritime Silk Road, the country has been strengthening its naval power. The US’ island chain strategy – introduced by former US secretary of state John Foster Dulles during the Cold War – is an obstacle to this. These islands serve as platforms for hostile forces against China.
