The unexpected voyage of a Chinese naval task force around Australia in February and March, marked by live-fire drills that disrupted airline flights to and from New Zealand, highlighted Beijing’s growing ability to project military power far from its shores — and Canberra’s limited ability to respond.
Most of the Royal Australian Navy’s aging diesel-electric submarines were out of service at the time as were both tankers that could have refueled vessels shadowing the Chinese ships.
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