Well, the Chinese did announce their intentions for these vessels in advance.The RAAF monitored an unprecedented and unannounced exercise involving three Chinese warships in international waters to the north of Australia, it has emerged.
The unusual naval exercise late last week is considered to have been a deliberate and provocative move by the Chinese that will send a clear message to the region.
For the first time, the Chinese navy sent warships sailing through the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.
The Chinese flottilla passing through Sunda strait is clearly a case of innocent passage which is allowed under international law and doesn't ask any special consideration by the Indonesian government. The Indonesian government will have been informed as a matter of courtesy.
For me it means what it is - Chinese vessels sailed through the Sunda.I would say that this is a clear example of the growing warm relationship between Beijing and Jakarta and comes as no surprise whatsoever.
Well, the Chinese did announce their intentions for these vessels in advance.
I printed links to those announcements and pictures of the ships involved on this very thread, that were dated February 3rd, eleven days ago. My guess is that the releases that those stories were based upon were sent out a day or two before they went out in the press. So, I would say that the planned exercises of these ships in question in those waters has been known in the press for about two weeks.
Other articles in the US Press said transparency wasn't an issue, because the event was well covered by the Chinese media.
They had little to worry about from those two destroyers and the LPD with one LCAC. It was a training exercise and the PRC used it to also make a simple point.Australia's problem is the PLAN squadron roamed around it's NW space and made them a little nervous.
For me it means what it is - Chinese vessels sailed through the Sunda.
And your conclusions fail a big time.
People's Daily Online said:On February 10, officers and soldiers on the PLAN warship, Yancheng, FFG-546, smoothly completed the third-batch of the escort mission of transporting Syria's chemical weapons together with warships of other countries including the Russia Peter the great, CG-099, the Danish naval vessel Esbern Snare, L17, and the Norwegian Navy vessel, Helga Instad, F313
At 10 a.m. local time, the Yancheng steered into the territorial sea of Syria, and patrolled and alerted in the designated sea area by constituting a formation together with the Peter the Great of Russian navy. One hour later, Norwegian transport ship steered into Latakia Port and began to pick up chemical weapons. In the entire process, Chinese and Russian liaison officers kept in touch with each other.
Escorted by warships of China, Russia, Denmark and Norway, the Norwegian transport ship loaded with chemical weapons safely steered out of the territorial sea of Syria. The Yancheng consummately completed the escort mission.
Jin Xupu, Chief of Staff of the formation, told the reporter, "Based on the previous rounds of joint escort cooperation, all parties can communicate with one another more smoothly and collaborate with one another more tacitly, and they also have a more thorough understanding of the mission, thus not only accumulating valuable experience but also laying a solid foundation for subsequent escort missions."
The Chinese flottilla passing through Sunda strait is clearly a case of innocent passage which is allowed under international law and doesn't ask any special consideration by the Indonesian government. The Indonesian government will have been informed as a matter of courtesy.