War over Taiwan coming? 40,000 troops gather for huge Indo-Pacific drills
Photo: Military personnel from 19 countries will participate in the training exercises (Getty Images)
On Sunday, July 13, Australia launched its largest military exercises involving the US. The drills come amid China's threats against Taiwan, Reuters informs.
The military exercises are called Talisman Sabre. This year, 40,000 troops from 19 countries will participate. The list includes Japan, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada.
The drills will cover an area stretching thousands of kilometers — from Christmas Island, which belongs to Australia in the Indian Ocean, to the Coral Sea off the country's east coast.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations for the Australian Defense Force, said the exercises will serve as a rehearsal for joint combat operations.
He told reporters the two-week drills will test capabilities in the air, at sea, on land, and in space. They will assess the ability to deploy forces to northern Australia and operate from Australian territory.
"I will leave it to China to interpret what 19 friends, allies, and partners wanting to operate together in the region means to them. But for me... it is nations that are in search of a common aspiration for peace, stability, a free and open Indo-Pacific," Jones said.
Earlier, Australian Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy said the Chinese Navy may be monitoring the exercises to gather intelligence, as it has done before.
Returning to Operation Talisman Sabre, US Army Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commander of US Forces in the Pacific, said the exercises will enhance the armed forces’ readiness for a joint response. He called them a deterrent, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to avoid war.
"If we could do all this alone, and we could go fast, but because we want to go far, we have to do it together, and that is important because of the instability that is resident in the region," Vowell said.
Reuters notes the US is Australia’s main security ally. Although Australia does not allow foreign bases, US forces are expanding rotational presence and fuel depots at Australian bases.
Starting in 2027, US Virginia-class submarines will be based at a port in Western Australia. Analysts say these submarines will play a key role in supporting US forces in any Taiwan-related conflict.
Are the exercises linked to Taiwan?
Talisman Sabre is a large-scale, biennial bilateral and multinational military exercise conducted by the US and Australia since 2005.
The exercises aim to:
- Practice joint operations;
- Improve command, communications, logistics, and operational standards;
- Develop crisis response scenarios.
Officially, the drills are not directed against China and do not simulate repelling a Chinese attack on Taiwan. However, they take place amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific caused by increased Chinese military activity, especially near Taiwan’s shores.
Thus, formally, these are not "anti-China exercises," but effectively, they prepare for deterrence and possible conflict with China, including a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan.
US seeks clarity from Japan and Australia on roles in potential Taiwan war
Yesterday, the Financial Times published a report stating that US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby is pressing Australia and Japan to clarify their roles if the US and China go to war over Taiwan.
On Sunday, Australian Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy said his country will not pre-deploy troops in any conflict. According to him, only the sitting government will make that decision.
This statement effectively responded to the Financial Times article mentioned above.
