Ship visit strengthens Defence ties between China and Australia

Tasman

Junior Member
28 September 2007

The bilateral defence relationship between Australia and the people's Republic of of China is being further strengthened with a Chinese Naval Visit.
Two vessels from the People's Republic of China Navy have visited Sydney, docking at Fleet Base East at Garden Island.
The port visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Australia and China and China's National Day on October 1st.
Following the port visit, the Chinese ships will take part in the Trilateral Search and Rescue Exercise with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
This exercise will take place in the Tasman sea. This is the first time we have conducted such a trilateral exercise with China.

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The arrival of Chinese Luhu Class Destroyer Harbin (DDG112) in Sydney Harbour is shown below (photo from the above link):

20070928ran8099889_001_drn_lo.jpg


She is a nice looking and well armed ship.

Great to see PLAN ships working with the RAN and RNZN.

Tas
 

Schumacher

Senior Member
Photo taken on Sept 24, 2007 shows the HMAS Parramatta in Shanghai. Two Australian ANZAC class frigates arrived in Shanghai Monday for a six-day friendship visit. (newsphoto)

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Tasman

Junior Member
Photo taken on Sept 24, 2007 shows the HMAS Parramatta in Shanghai. Two Australian ANZAC class frigates arrived in Shanghai Monday for a six-day friendship visit. (newsphoto)

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Here are some more comments by the Australian Defence Minister about both visits and the bilateral defence relationship:

BILATERAL DEFENCE RELATIONSHIP STRENGTHENED



Today, I had the pleasure of welcoming to Australia the People’s Liberation Army – Navy Task Group consisting of a Chinese destroyer, Haerbin, and replenishment ship, Hongzehu.

The Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, AM, RAN, joined me in warmly welcoming the Commander North Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Su Shiliang and the Commander of the Task Group, Rear Admiral Zhang Xue-zeng, to Australia.

This significant naval visit will further strengthen the bilateral defence relationship between Australia and the People’s Republic of China.

The two vessels from the People’s Republic of China Navy will remain at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney until 2 October 2007, bringing with them around 500 personnel for the five-day port visit.

Significantly the port visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Australia and China as well as China’s National Day on 1 October. Ship visits like this are an important element of the Australia – China bilateral defence relationship.

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Perth, completed a similar visit to China earlier this month.

Following the port visit, the Chinese ships will participate in a trilateral Search and Rescue Exercise with the RAN and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). This exercise will take place in the Tasman Sea from 2 to 3 October 2007. This is the first time we have conducted such a trilateral activity with China.

The exercise provides an excellent opportunity to enhance cooperation between the Chinese, Australian and New Zealand navies, foster mutual understanding and further develop lines of communication.

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Here is a link to another photo of HMAS Parramatta during the visit to China.

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Tas
 

-SOC

New Member
Interesting. A bilateral defense relationship between the two nations would start the ball rolling to dispel Carlo Kopp's asinine theories about Australia being invaded by hordes of Chinese aircraft necessitating an F-22 purchase!
 

akinkhoo

Junior Member
the australian will prefer to maintain neutrality at this time of peace. there is too much trade on the line. I doubt they want to get too friendly or alienated, it is just bad business. =)
 

Schumacher

Senior Member
The next likely Aust PM, Kevin Rudd, is a fluent Mandarin speaker & said to be more China friendly than Howard.
But then again, that may not be fair to Howard who despite having an image of very pro-US has managed to skillfully bring Sino-Aust ties to very high levels in recent years.
 

flyzies

Junior Member
The Howard govt has done some very good balanced walking during its 11 yrs in power. Aust-US ties are at its height atm and Sino-Aust trades ties are extremely strong.
But whether this can be kept up only the future will tell, because at some point in time the US may call on its trusty ally Aust to support them in a situation that could be confronting to China. Eg. Aust has already said it would not get involved in any cross strait tensions, the US has said Aust should honour the ANZUS Treaty.
 

Tasman

Junior Member
just what does the ANZUS treaty dictates? :D

Here is what the treaty says:

SECURITY TREATY BETWEEN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE PARTIES TO THIS TREATY,


REAFFIRMING their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all Governments, and desiring to strengthen the fabric of peace in the Pacific Area,


NOTING that the United States already has arrangements pursuant to which its armed forces are stationed in the Philippines, and has armed forces and administrative responsibilities in the Ryukyus, and upon the coming into force of the Japanese Peace Treaty may also station armed forces in and about Japan to assist in the preservation of peace and security in the Japan Area,


RECOGNIZING that Australia and New Zealand as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations have military obligations outside as well as within the Pacific Area,


DESIRING to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that any of them stand alone in the Pacific Area, and


DESIRING further to coordinate their efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace and security pending the development of a more comprehensive system of regional security in the Pacific Area,


THEREFORE DECLARE AND AGREE as follows:



Article I

The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.



Article II

In order more effectively to achieve the objective of this Treaty the Parties separately and jointly by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.



Article III

The Parties will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific.



Article IV

Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.


Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.



Article V

For the purpose of Article IV, an armed attack on any of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of any of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.



Article VI

This Treaty does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and obligations of the Parties under the Charter of the United Nations or the responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.



Article VII

The Parties hereby establish a Council, consisting of their Foreign Ministers or their Deputies, to consider matters concerning the implementation of this Treaty. The Council should be so organized as to be able to meet at any time.



Article VIII

Pending the development of a more comprehensive system of regional security in the Pacific Area and the development by the United Nations of more effective means to maintain international peace and security, the Council, established by Article VII, is authorized to maintain a consultative relationship with States, Regional Organizations, Associations of States or other authorities in the Pacific Area in a position to further the purposes of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of that Area.



Article IX

This Treaty shall be ratified by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Government of Australia, which will notify each of the other signatories of such deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force as soon as the ratifications of the signatories have been deposited.[1]



Article X

This Treaty shall remain in force indefinitely. Any Party may cease to be a member of the Council established by Article VII one year after notice has been given to the Government of Australia, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of such notice.


Article XI

This Treaty in the English language shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of Australia. Duly certified copies thereof will be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of each of the other signatories.

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As you may be aware the USA suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 986, after NZ refused port access by USN nuclear powered or armed vessels.

Tas
 
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