Geoffrey Miller: Foreign Policy Analyst on heightened tensions in the Pacific as China deploys warships off the coast of Australia

There’s a sign of heightened tensions as China deploys warships off the coast of Australia. 

Three Chinese warships have been seen sailing around 280 kilometres off Sydney, in the Tasman Sea. 

Defence Minister Judith Collins says the Chinese Government hasn't told us what they're doing there. 

Foreign policy analyst Geoffrey Miller told Andrew Dickens it's significant, and tensions are not getting any better in the Indo-Pacific. 

He says we need to be careful not to overreact, as they are quite entitled to be there. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the New Zealand Defense Force is monitoring activity by
a Chinese naval task force. They are about one hundred
and fifty no toical miles from the coast of Sydney.
We're watching them. Should we be worried? So, Foreign policy
analyst Jeffrey Miller joins me now and goodboding to you.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Jeffrey, Good morning Andrew.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
What are they up to?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, they're conducting a routine patrol, you might say, which
is what New Zealand also did in the Taiwan Straight
last September when the hmnzs out or sales through there.
So I think it is a sign of heightened tensions.
It is something that hasn't happened before. It is significant.
Two hundred and seventy eight kilometers off the coast of
Sydney there is where those ships were reportedly where they

(00:41):
reportedly were around twenty four hours ago. So it is significant.
But I think we need to be careful of not
We need to be careful not to overreact to all
of this as well as the Australian Defense Minister, yes,
say Richard Miles said, you know, they're fully entitled to
be there directing in imcordance with international law. They're not
in Australian territorial waters, and I think we just need

(01:03):
to calm down a little bit.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Yes, will the Chinese know the rules? And of course
you've got to remember that the commander of the US
Indo Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, happens to be in
Australia right now and he's meeting the Australia Chief of
Joint Operations in Canberra, so you know that's happening there.
So there's a bit of saber rattling happening out in
the sea.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yes, there's a lot going on. I mean, I don't
think it's probably a direct response to that you don't
sail down a frigate at a moment's notice. That takes
time to plan. These things does coincide though, with the
beginning of the new Trump administration, But I think there
are some really concerning developments. While we've all been fixated
on what's happening in Washington with Trump's statements, we've had

(01:43):
several close calls in the South China Sea, including involving
an Australian aircraft just quite recently around ten days ago,
and there was another one with the Philippines aircraft and
a Chinese helicopter just a couple of days ago. The
US tested an intercontinental list missile into the Pacific this week,
reciprocating a Chinese test last year. You know, things are

(02:05):
not getting any better than the Indo Pacific in terms
of the tensions. I think it's imperatives that New Zealand
continue to uphold dialogue. Winston Peters is on his way
to China in the next ten days or so and
where we will meet with his counterpart one year. I
think it's really really important that he sits down in
that they have a fallen, frank and productive discussion on
all of all these matters. Because when you add and

(02:27):
also what's been happening with New Zealand's position on the
Clock Islands, I think this will be being watched in Beijing,
and perhaps New Zealands decided to come out with a
more aggressive posturing towards China this year. Perhaps it's to
make the case more for greater defense spending. Remember we're
still waiting on the Defense Capability Plan that's coming out

(02:47):
in the coming months, and defense spending is going to
go up to probably close to two percent of GDP.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
What an excellent answer to jeff I have to say,
you just answered three questions that I was going to
answer I ask you in one answer. So I thank
you so much for your time. That is Jeffrey Miller,
foreign Policy Expert.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
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