<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="" title="Chinese "><span>Chinese</span></a><span> surveillance ships are likely to be monitoring some of the largest military exercises between Australia and the United States, taking place in Queensland and other parts of the country from today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Exercise Talisman Sabre is the biggest bilateral wargame between Australia and the US, and this year's will be the largest edition of the event, with 30,000 personnel from 19 nations taking part, and Papua New Guinea to play host to part of the exercises for the first time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But China is likely to be keeping a close eye on the developments.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mount-druitt-updates-man-shot-by-police-in-westfield-carpark-after-fight-breaks-out/ab4cd513-cffb-450f-9444-524720ecd0bb"><strong><span>Father-of-two shot dead by police after brawl allegedly involving wife</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That usually happens, China sends down one of their surveillance ships," 9News political editor Charles Croucher said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're in international water. They have every legal right to do so."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to the ABC this morning, federal Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said it would be unusual if China didn't spy on the exercises.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/talisman-sabre-military-exercises-australia-china-monitoring/5932c502-9125-4cb6-af94-09551067b767" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's our most important bilateral exercise with the United States," Conroy said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not unusual for other countries to observe that. China has observed those exercises for the last four exercises.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It won't be unexpected if they continue to do that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said Australia will monitor China's movements and the exercises will be adjusted accordingly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-florida-lawmakers-allowed-alligator-alcatraz-say-detainees-packed-into-cages/2a77bb3e-3545-456f-8971-f139b6112dd5"><strong><span>Trump's Alligator Alcatraz detainees 'packed into cages' visitors say</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The wargames have coincided with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-in-china-updates/82c02eb0-147f-4ef2-b96b-8754cde5081d" rel="" target="" title="Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China</span></a><span>, where defence and security are likely to be raised when he meets President Xi Jinping following the People's Liberation Army Navy flotilla that circumnavigated Australia and held live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea with little, if any, warning earlier this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also comes as the </span><em><span>Sydney Morning Herald</span></em><span> and </span><em><span>The Age</span></em><span> reported that the Pentagon is seeking assurances from Australia about </span><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-wants-to-know-how-australia-would-use-subs-if-america-goes-to-war-20250713-p5mehw.html" rel="" target="" title="how it would use any nuclear-powered submarines gained in the AUKUS deal"><span>how it would use any nuclear-powered submarines gained in the AUKUS deal</span></a><span> if the United States goes to war – such as in a conflict with China over Taiwan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese did not directly address those reports when asked about them this afternoon in Shanghai, saying Australia's goal was "advancing peace and security in our region".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan," he told reporters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't support any unilateral action there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have a clear position, and we have been consistent about that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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