The event, Operation Talisman Sabre 2025, features participation from over 30,000 military members representing 19 countries, including Australia, and is scheduled to take place nationwide from mid-July to early August.

Speaking on Today, Marles said there was no Chinese observation of the exercises “right now”.

Tensions have risen recently due to incidents such as live-fire exercises by Chinese naval ships near the Australian shoreline, as China persists in asserting its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

“In terms of the live firing exercise, you know, we would have preferred that there was more notice,” Marles said.

“We would certainly give more notice, and it is a point that we made to China at the time, a point that the prime minister has made to China in his visits there.”

Marles pointed out that Australian warships were more often in the vicinity of Chinese waters than vice versa, given freedom of movement exercises in the South China Sea.

So, he said, it was important for Australia to respect, and maintain its stance on upholding, international maritime law.

“The bulk of the work of the Royal Australian Navy is in places like the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the waters north of Australia, and it’s really important that they are able to continue to do that work,” Marles said.

“And it’s important we are not establishing some standard in Australia, you know, in the vicinity of Australia, which would compromise the ability for the Royal Australian Navy to do its work there. So we do act in a consistent manner.”