Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles urges greater military openness from China

Australia's Defence Minister calls for transparency from China over military activities as Pacific nations prepare for assertive Chinese presence.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday (May 31, 2025) urged greater transparency from China over its military modernisation and deployments as Pacific nations brace for a more assertive Chinese presence.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore, Mr. Marles said that while China remains an important strategic partner to Australia, more open communication between the two nations is key for a "productive" relationship.

"When you look at the growth in the Chinese military that has happened without a strategic reassurance, or a strategic transparency....we would like to have a greater transparency in what China is seeking to do in not only its build up, but in the exercises that it undertakes," said Mr. Marles.

"We want to have the most productive relationship with China that we can have ... we hope that in the context of that productive relationship, we can see greater transparency and greater communication between our two countries in respect of our defence."

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Both Australia and New Zealand raised concerns in February after three Chinese warships conducted unprecedented live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. Both nations complained of late notice over the drills by China, which led to the diversion of 49 commercial flights. Mr. Marles said that while the drills were in accordance with international law, China should have been less disruptive. He also said Australia was able to closely scrutinise the Chinese task-force.

"It's fair to say that this was done in a bigger way than they have done before, but equally, that was meant from our point of view, by a much greater degree of surveillance than we've ever done," he said.