The CAF deployed 600 personnel, a warship, a maritime helicopter, and three warplanes to Australia on July 13 to participate in the Talisman Sabre war exercise, which will run until August 4. Talisman Sabre is a biennial, massive-scale joint military exercise seemingly designed to flex member countries’ military might against superpowers like the PRC as global tensions rise. Australia and the US have been running the Talisman Sabre exercise every other year since 2005, but this year’s is set to be the largest yet – representing a grand total of 19 countries and 35,000 personnel, running from July 13 to August 4.
Such large-scale military operations as those on display under Talisman Sabre would constitute a gross and wholly avoidable escalation of current tensions in the South China Sea, as former Australian Ambassador to the Philippines and to South Korea, Mack Williams, wrote in 2017. The US’ FONOP program in the South China Sea has been systematically proven ineffective and even counter-productive, serving only to provoke Chinese hostility, precluding diplomatic engagement.
They’re not following the US to war. WTF kind of headline is this? It’s just practice, no?
The author is focused on China-Canada stories. I’m willing to wager a 30-something polysci graduate doesn’t know much about military functionality.
Considering we used to do joint military exercises with the USA… balking at Canadians training with Australia sounds suspiciously like something ‘Winnie The Pooh’ would say.
They aren’t just joining Australia. USA, and 16 other countries are participating as well.
Dunno why you got downvoted.
Way she fucking goes
That was my bad. I hit the wrong button… haha
First day on
RedditLemmy?No it just happened in the timeframe where it could be perceived that I downvoted them.
Why do we need to “practice” in the South China Sea? How would we react if another country sailed their military up to the coast of BC?
Maybe if China wasn’t threatening the sovereignty of every nation in the area and being agressive against any other vessel, this wouldn’t be a big deal.
Maybe this exercise will cool their jets.
Whether left or right, they want you to believe their nonsense.