Marles Defends Response to CCP’s Naval Circumnavigation of Australia

Richard Marles responded after Angus Taylor asked if China’s drills off NSW were justified by Australia’s alliances in the South China Sea.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles responds to a reporter's question before the start of a meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Defence Minister Richard Marles has pushed back against opposition criticism over the government’s response to the three Chinese warships that circumnavigated Australia earlier this year, warning it risks undermining bipartisan support for international law.

During Question Time, opposition defence spokesperson Angus Taylor questioned whether Australia’s activity with allies in the South China Sea had given Beijing a green light to conduct live-fire military drills off New South Wales (NSW).