A Chinese surface action group, led by the People’s Liberation Army Navy has been detected operating off the coast of Tasmania within Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The presence of the Chinese Task Group 107 has prompted heightened surveillance by both Australian and New Zealand military forces.
Notably, on February 22, 2025, Australia’s Defense Department reported that the group was operating approximately 160 nautical miles east of Hobart, having entered Australia’s EEZ earlier that week. “Defense continues to monitor the task group while it remains in the vicinity of Australia’s maritime approaches and is coordinating closely with the New Zealand Defence Force,” the update stated. Australian officials emphasized their commitment to transparency, urging all military forces in the region to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism.
While the task group operates in the Tasman Sea, New Zealand’s HMNZS Aotearoa (A11) is positioned in the nearby Bass Strait to provide logistical support to Australian and New Zealand naval forces. According to naval experts, though the drills were held in international waters, Beijing could have given Australia and New Zealand a heads-up much sooner in the interests of safety.
The coordination between the two nations underscores their commitment to maintaining security and stability in the region. Simultaneously, the U.S. and Japan initiated a ballistic missile defense exercise, known as Resilient Shield, on February 25, 2025, in Japan.
Interestingly, China’s Ministry of Defense said that the exercises conducted in international waters complied with international law and did not affect aviation safety. This incident reflects ongoing concerns about regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, especially as China’s military presence grows. It also underscores the importance of international norms governing military operations in shared waters. Political leaders in Australia and New Zealand have called for improved diplomatic communication and adherence to best practices in maritime operations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
