The chief of the defence force has revealed that a Chinese flotilla being monitored in the Pacific late last year came right to the edge of Australia’s exclusive economic zone — around 400 kilometres from the north-east Queensland coast — in an exercise designed to “signal” China’s growing naval strength to the region.

The news has drawn sharp criticism from the federal opposition, which has accused the government of secrecy and called on Labor to be more “honest” about Australia’s strategic position.

The government confirmed in November last year that it was keeping a close eye on the powerful Chinese task group, which included a frigate, a cruiser, a refuelling ship and a landing helicopter dock, as it moved through the north Pacific.

Satellite images show scale of China’s Philippine Sea flotilla

Private firm Starboard Maritime Intelligence says it has used satellite technology to track down the People’s Liberation Army Navy task group.

But both the ADF and senior government ministers remained tight-lipped about its progress over December and the Christmas break, although Australia briefed multiple Pacific nations about the flotilla’s passage as it headed further south.

On Wednesday afternoon, Liberal senator Jess Collins pressed Admiral David Johnston about the flotilla during a Senate estimates hearing.

Admiral Johnston told the committee that the ADF had closely monitored the task group, which stayed “just clear” of Australia’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone by around five or seven nautical miles.

“Its closest proximity to us was through the north-eastern part of the Queensland coast,” he said.

“It moved through a number of Pacific islands and then turned north just outside of our 200-mile zone.”

‘Collaborative approach’ with Pacific neighbours

Admiral Johston said the Chinese flotilla had earlier travelled through the South West Pacific, past a “number” of Pacific island nations, which worked with Australia to monitor its progress.

“It went past a number of them and not necessarily within their territorial seas — through and near Noumea, up through the northern islands and then back up through near Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“We worked with a number of our near neighbours based on both what information they were seeing and contributing our own understanding of it.

“It was a very collaborative approach. 

“There was strong interest from our Pacific partners on what the task group was doing while it was conducting its deployment.”

Admiral Johnston described the passage of the task group as a “reflection of the growing capacity the Chinese military and, particularly, the Navy has”.

“It’s a demonstration of its ability to operate much further from China’s shores than it has routinely done,” he said.

“We judge the nature of its activities was both for internal training purposes as well as signalling to Australia and our region the capacity the Chinese military has.”

Former naval officer Jennifer Parker, who is an expert associate at the ANU’s national security college, said it was another “indication of China’s growing blue water naval capability and its strategic interest in our region”.

“Navies routinely deploy globally, but they rarely do so without purpose. In peacetime, deployments that are not tied to port visits or major exercises are often designed to demonstrate capability,” she told the ABC.

“The task group’s proximity to Australia, at just over 200 nautical miles, and its subsequent alteration of course suggest this was not a routine transit.

“As the chief of the defence force noted during estimates, it was signalling to Australia and the region.

“That signal underscores both China’s expanding naval reach and Australia’s maritime vulnerability.”

Defence produces briefing slides on Chinese flotilla

Australian Defence officials have been briefing Pacific nations about the formidable capabilities and weaponry of a Chinese naval flotilla in the region, which the ADF is continuing to monitor closely.

Ms Parker also said it was “notable” that the task group did not enter Australia’s exclusive economic zone, which it is lawfully entitled to do.

“That suggests a calibrated approach, demonstrating capability while avoiding the kind of public backlash seen earlier this year, which strengthened domestic support for enhanced defence capability,” she said.

Senator Collins said the government needed to be more “honest” about Australia’s strategic position in the wake of the deployment.

“The government never told the Australian public that, for the second time in a year, a Chinese battlegroup has come within striking distance of our coast,” she told the ABC.

“Anthony Albanese must be honest with Australians about our deteriorating strategic circumstances.”