January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
SYDNEY, July 13 — The Australian government said today it expects China to conduct surveillance on large-scale military exercises being held with the United States and other allies.
It also reiterated concerns — which Beijing has dismissed as a “false narrative” — that China is seeking to establish a military base in the South Pacific.
The remarks, made by a government minister, came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese embarks on a six-day visit to China aimed at strengthening recently restored trade relations.
Beginning Sunday, more than 30,000 troops from 19 countries will take part in the annual Talisman Sabre exercises, held across Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“The Chinese military has been monitoring these drills since 2017, and it would be quite surprising if they didn’t do so again this year,” said Pat Conroy, Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry and for Pacific Island Affairs, during an interview with public broadcaster ABC.
“We will, of course, track their activity and monitor their presence around Australia,” he added.
“Countries observe such exercises to gather intelligence on tactics, electronic signals, and communication systems. We’ll make the necessary adjustments to limit any information leaks.”
The South Pacific remains a key geopolitical battleground, with China competing against Western powers for regional influence.
“In my role overseeing the Pacific, I’ve seen clear signs that China is actively pursuing a military base in the region,” Conroy said, repeating a claim he has previously made.
“We are working hard to be the region’s preferred security partner, because we don’t see a Chinese military presence as beneficial for Australia.”
In 2022, China signed a secretive security agreement with the Solomon Islands, sparking concerns in Canberra and Washington that it could pave the way for a permanent Chinese military presence — though the full details of the pact remain undisclosed.
Australia, Conroy said, seeks “a balanced region where no country dominates or is dominated.”
Earlier this month, China’s embassy in Fiji denied claims of military base ambitions in the Pacific, calling them “false narratives” driven by hidden agendas.
Meanwhile, Beijing has invested hundreds of millions in infrastructure projects across the Pacific, funding stadiums, government buildings, hospitals, and roads.
In recent years, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, and Nauru have all switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. — AFP
