Why is China sending ships our way? Just ask Taiwan

The three Chinese warships off the coast of NSW should be a wake up call and it shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing as there is a federal election around the corner, writes David Cheng-Wei Wu.

The surprise visit of three Chinese warships just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney serves as a wake-up call, bringing up distant memories of World War II when Australia, a country “girt by sea”, was exposed to threat of an authoritarian power’s navy suddenly appearing in the nation’s waters.

Yet for some time Australian opinion leaders have debated the nature of the China threat.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that China did not follow the best practice of giving 12 to 24 hours’ prior notice and the Australian government has expressed concern to the Chinese government.

There has plenty of analysis in the past few days on the purpose to rationalise China’s flagrant military moves. It is worth noting that a comment published by Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the Global Times, stated that: “The People’s Liberation Army is expected to host more such far seas voyages … Some countries may have not yet adapted to seeing the PLA Navy’s normal voyages”.

Chinese warships were spotted in the Tasman Sea. Picture: Australian Defence Force

Coming from Taiwan, a neighbouring country which faces China’s military harassment and economic coercion on a regular basis, I want to share observations that China is trying to create its “new normal” now in Australia’s front yard with the grey zone tactics, just as they have done in the Taiwan Strait.

We have seen an uptick of frequency of PLA aircraft’s incursions into our ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone) from 960 sorties in 2021 to 3074 sorties in 2024.

China does this to protest the world’s engagement with Taiwan and to cast a shadow over our elections.

David Cheng-Wei Wu says Australia should take it as a warning. Picture: Australian Defence Force

On this score, it is sure that China knows about Australia’s upcoming federal election and calculated it was “worthwhile” sending a fleet to make an impression.

China would also like to test the determination of our democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as Donald Trump recalibrates US foreign policy.

The development of international relations may have its own course. Nevertheless, there are still some rules in world politics which have been verified throughout the pain and history.

“Like-minded countries must band together”, should be the one to help stand up against aggression and authoritarian expansionism.

When Australia faces the Chinese military bully and intimidation, do not forget the rules we learned, and all democracies would be united by your side, including Taiwan.

David Cheng-Wei Wu is Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney