Anthony Albanese's ironic post as Chinese warships sailed off the coast of Australia's largest city - as Aussies unleash over Beijing's unprecedented show of force
- Chinese military ships spotted off Sydney
- Comes as Albo marked Darwin bombing anniversary
- Post sparked fury from Aussies
- READ MORE: China's President Xi warns 'no one can stop' unification with Taiwan in chilling threat
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised eyebrows with a social media post about 'the moment war came to Australia' as it emerged Chinese warships had been spotted just 150 nautical miles off Sydney.
Three ships from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) have been seen just 277km off the coast of Australia's largest city in an unprecedented show of power.
It's the farthest south that Beijing's navy has ventured, outside of official port visits.
Just as the news was breaking on Wednesday night, Mr Albanese took to social media to mark the 83rd anniversary of the Darwin Harbour bombing in the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia.
More than 260 Japanese aircraft attacked the port in two major raids, which killed 252 Allied personnel and civilians and sank the USS Peary destroyer.
The Prime Minister started his tribute with a remark about how sailors failed to recognise the danger of the approaching military.
'The moment the war came to Australia 83 years ago was almost innocuous, with sailors in Darwin Harbour looking up to admire what they mistook for a friendly formation,' he wrote on X.
'By the time the sirens sounded, the bombs were already falling.'
Anthony Albanese (right with fiance Jodie Haydon) marked the anniversary of the Darwin bombing on Wednesday night as news broke off the latest Chinese warship sighting off the Australian coast
Chinese warships have again been spotted off Australia's east coast (pictured, the People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang in the Coral Sea last week
The ironic timing of the Prime Minister's post was not lost on many who questioned Mr Albanese about the Chinese warships.
'Are the Chinese about to invade Australia?' one woman commented.
'What on earth is going on? Why aren’t you addressing the public and responding to our concerns at an emergency press conference?'
Another Aussie wrote: 'If there is a Chinese naval fleet sailing off the coast of Sydney, what is been done to protect Australia’s undersea communication cables from being cut and sabotaged?'
Others blasted Mr Albanese over the Chinese ownership of Port of Darwin.
The port is owned by Chinese-owned company Landbridge on a 99-year lease signed with the Northern Territory government in 2015.
It won't return to Australian hands until November 2114.
'Now please secure the Port of Darwin from our enemies and get these ships out if Australian Marine National Parks,' one X user wrote.
There was no mention of the Chinese warships when the Prime Minister tweeted a lengthy post on X on Wednesday night
Coincidentally, the Port of Darwin (pictured) is owned by a Chinese-owned company on a 99-year lease signed in 2015
'Australian security is being compromised. These are foreign longline vessels operating near coastal (areas).'
Another added: 'And now the Chinese lease out Darwin Port. You are shameless. You must go!'
The Prime Minister continued his post by paying tribute to the servicemen who defended Darwin with 'courage, resilience and resolve' during more than 100 air raids over the next two years.
'Our nation, once so safe in our geographical isolation, felt the full brunt of a relentless enemy,' he wrote.
'Amid the fear and the confusion, our servicemen fired back with whatever they could lay their hands on, even if it was just a revolver.
'There was such desperation, suffering and destruction, but what stood tallest was their extraordinary courage. Thanks to them, Darwin stood.
'And they gave the people of our entire continent the hope that would do so much to carry us through the war.'
Aussies unleashed on Albo following Beijing's unprecedented show of force
The sighting reported on Wednesday was the second time within a week the Chinese warships had been spotted off the Australian east coast.
'Defence is monitoring the People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class Cruiser named Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu, which continue to operate to the east of Australia,' the Australian Defence Force said in a statement on Wednesday night.
The ADF confirmed last Thursday that officials were monitoring a People's Liberation Army-Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea.
It issued a rare statement, saying it was 'aware of a People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia'.
Experts have described the latest Chinese warship sighting as a warning from Beijing (pictured, Chinese Navy personnel visiting Sydney in 2019)
'Defence routinely monitors all maritime traffic in our Exclusive Economic Zone and maritime approaches,' it said.
'The vessels travelled through South-east Asia, before entering Australia's maritime approaches. One of the vessels, the Hengyang, transited the waters to Australia's north.
'Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia's right to do the same.
'Defence will continue to monitor the activities of the task group in Australia's maritime approaches with a combination of capabilities, including air and maritime assets.'
However, the ADF had not revealed that the Chinese military vessels have since headed south.
While the ships are not in breach of international law, a former Australian naval officer said the latest sighting should serve as a warning to Australia.
'It is of course sending a message to Australia's about the PLA-N's capability,' UNSW Canberra adjunct fellow Jennifer Parker told The Australian.
'We must become accustomed to these kind of operations. The lesson here is China has a bluewater capability, a point we already knew.
'In the event of crisis or conflict, we should expect more operations in our region and likely interdiction of our maritime trade. This is why Australia should invest in a strong navy.'
The unprecedented presence of PLA-N ships off the coast of Sydney comes a little over a week after a Chinese fighter jet fired flares within 30m of a Royal Australian Air Force surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea.
The 23rd Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue was held in Beijing on Monday for the first time since 2019
The Albanese Government lodged an official protest with Beijing over the 'unsafe and unprofessional' interaction, which risked up to a dozen Australian lives.
Beijing claimed it had lodged its own protest over the aircraft's 'deliberate intrusion'.
The 23rd Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue was held in Beijing on Monday for the first time since 2019.
'Both countries exchanged views on bilateral, global and regional security issues, as well as military transparency and communication,' the ADF said.
'Australia reiterated the importance of all countries in the region operating in a safe and professional manner at all times to avoid the risk of miscalculation or escalation.'
