South China Sea
Chinese military surrounds Taiwan as ‘strong punishment’ in new drills
China has started its most expansive military drills in a year around Taiwan, just days after Lai Ching-te took over as the island’s new president.
Latest
Opinion
China relations
When Taiwan changed leader, Beijing sent its own guests, uninvited
This is the atmosphere in which Taiwan on Monday inaugurated its new president, Lai Ching-te.
- by Peter Hartcher
‘Utterly committed’: New ‘quad’ emerges to push back on China
Australia, the US, Japan and the Philippines have made a show of strength against China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
- by Matthew Knott
US-led war games to sail into Chinese-claimed waters amid rising tensions
Australia will take part in an annual military exercise beginning this week that will send thousands of Philippine and American military personnel into contested waters.
- by Zach Hope
Online dump of Chinese hacking documents offers rare window into pervasive state surveillance
The trove catalogues apparent hacking activity and tools to spy on both Chinese and foreigners.
- by Frank Bajak and Dake Kang
Analysis
Defence
The big China gamble that could sink Marles’ navy overhaul
The navy’s $11 billion reboot is fine on paper - as long as we don’t need to go to war any time in the next decade.
- by Matthew Knott
Shane Warne and the China factor: One reporter’s tour of South-East Asia
From covering Shane Warne’s tragic death to travelling with Penny Wong to her home town, Chris Barrett saw a bit of everything.
- by Chris Barrett
US, Philippines condemn Chinese water cannon blasts on fisheries vessels
The noontime assault by Chinese ships is the latest flare-up of seething territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a flashpoint that has put the US and China on a collision course.
- by Jim Gomez
Australia and Philippines launch joint patrols in South China Sea
The first combined operation began on Saturday and comes after months of intensifying friction in the contested waterway.
- by Chris Barrett
Albanese condemns China over ‘dangerous, unprofessional’ use of sonar
Under pressure to reveal whether he raised the matter with Xi Jinping, the prime minister said his government had made its views known about the “regrettable incident”.
- by Matthew Knott and Olivia Ireland
‘Unsafe, unprofessional’: Chinese jet came within metres of US B-52, says Pentagon
Relations between China and the US have been tense, with friction between the world’s two largest economies over everything from Taiwan to China’s human rights record.