First Image Emerges of RAAF's Encounter With A Spy Ship During Talisman Sabre

Source: Department of Defence 

Last week, an aerial photograph revealed a RAAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft flying over a Chinese surveillance ship en route to Australia. The image was released by ABC and was taken from another Australian military aircraft, capturing the RAAF P-8 Poseidon soaring above the Chinese vessel labeled as People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet designation number 793. On Sunday, the Chinese ship was believed to be positioned off the coast of Queensland, possibly as far south as Shoalwater Bay.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, informed ABC that a P-8 surveillance aircraft was deployed on Thursday morning to establish communication with the ship.

Source: Japanese Ministry of Defense 

"It successfully located the AGI, and upon hailing, we received a courteous response, as is customary in normal interactions in international waters," General Bilton shared with ABC while observing Exercise Talisman Sabre activities.

He added, "They'll passively collect, and we'll adjust — there are some things we don't necessarily want to give away, and we have methods of being able to employ our forces without giving those more sensitive aspects of our training away".

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the drills for Exercise Talisman Sabre were not a simulation of war against China or any other nation but instead represented a cooperative operation between allied forces.

"You don't have a capable Defense Force unless you are match-fit, and you are not match-fit unless you train," he stated.

He further expressed, "This exercise is of utmost importance as it certifies all the capabilities and skills within the Australian Defense Force." Exercise Talisman Sabre stands as Australia's largest military training spectacle and is set to continue over the next two weeks.

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Australia is joined in these exercises by Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.