Maritime Matters

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Chinese Research Ship Near Australia & US Secretary of Defence Visits the Indo-Pacific

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

Chinese Marine Research Vessel South of Australia

China's New Amphibious Barges

US Secretary of Defence Visits the Indo-Pacific

Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea

HMAS Sydney Regional Presence Deployment

Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise in Australia

Links:

Stairway To Taiwan – The Chinese Amphibious Bridging System - Alex Luck

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/stairway-to-taiwan-the-chinese-amphibious-bridging-system/

China's naval activity off Australia: coercion or common practice? - National Security Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/chinas-naval-activity-off-australia-coercion-or-common/id1395131021?i=1000701008315

Sea Control 568: Jennifer Parker on an Australian Coast Guard

https://cimsec.org/sea-control-568-jennifer-parker-on-an-australian-coast-guard/

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Houthis and the Red Sea, Collins LOTE and Hanwha/Austal

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

Houthis and the Red Sea

Vietnam-Indonesia Maritime Boundary Settlement

Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base

Collins Class LOTE issues

Hanwha purchase of Austal stock

Harold Holt Naval Communications Station

Australian defence and the nebulous “archipelago” - https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australian-defence-nebulous-archipelago

Maritime Matters Episode Title: PLA-N Task Group circumnavigates Australia

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

• PLA-N Task Group circumnavigates Australia

• Australia's General Purpose Frigate program

• AUKUS updates

Links:

Political fighting over Chinese warships misses the point: Australia’s navy is no match for China’s built-up force - Richard Dunley

https://theconversation.com/political-fighting-over-chinese-warships-misses-the-point-australias-navy-is-no-match-for-chinas-built-up-force-251039

China’s expedition shows Australia must become a naval power - Jennifer Parker

https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-s-expedition-shows-australia-must-become-a-naval-power-20250222-p5le9k

If we panic about these Chinese ships, Xi wins the propaganda war - Jennifer Parker

https://www.smh.com.au/national/if-we-panic-about-these-chinese-ships-xi-wins-the-propaganda-war-20250227-p5lfnp.html

Explainer: Chinese Task Group's live firing on the High Seas - Jennifer Parker

https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/post/explainer-chinese-task-group-s-live-firing-on-the-high-seas?referral=business-feed

Maritime Matters Episode Title: P8 Incident, Regional Presence Deployments & Directed Energy Weapons

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

• Unsafe Chinese conduct near Australian P8 aircraft

• Chinese warships in the Coral Sea

• HMAS Hobart in Indonesia

• USS Harry S Truman Collison

• US Navy Directed Energy Weapons

• AUKUS Pillar 2 undersea warfare exercises

• Did You Know: Ratcatcher and Regulators

Show Notes: Episode 23: AUKUS and Australian Shipbuilding

In this first episode of 2025, Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) reflect on key issues and trends that shaped the domain in the past week. The series, which launched in April, has become a platform for thoughtful discussions on maritime strategy, security, and capability.

Episode Highlights:

Welcome & Season 2 Kick-Off

Quick recap of the Christmas/New Year period.

What's been happening in te region?

1. AUKUS Under the Trump Administration: US Defense reaffirmation of the trilateral pact, comments by Senator Rubio supporting deeper technology and defence ties.

2. South China Sea Tensions: Philippines offering to withdraw the US missile system if China stops aggressive actions. Possible second legal case against Beijing for environmental damage.

3. Sri Lanka & CMF: Sri Lankan Navy takes command of a multinational maritime training task force (CTF 154).

4. Exercise La Pérouse 25: French Carrier Strike Group (led by FS Charles de Gaulle) engaging multiple regional navies, including Australia’s HMAS Hobart.

What's going on with capability?

5. Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan: Vision for constructing/upgrading 79 vessels over 30 years, aiming for a more lethal, capable Royal Australian Navy.

6. Arafura Class OPVs: First vessel, NUSHIP Arafura, delivered for testing. Program challenges and shifts in patrol capabilities.

7. SEA 3000/General Purpose Frigate: Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate vs. MEKO 200 options. Japanese Defence officials offering priority delivery to Australia.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to like and subscribe for more maritime insights and stay tuned for the next episode.

Launch of 'Time for a Coastguard' Panel Discussion

This panel discussion, chaired by Andrew Tillett (Australian Financial Review), explores Jennifer Parker's new paper, 'Time for a Coastguard', published by the Australian Naval Institute. The paper argues for a dedicated Australian coastguard to address maritime security, law enforcement, and regional challenges.

🎙️ Panelists:

Jennifer Parker – Author of 'Time for a Coastguard'

Professor Bec Strating – Director, La Trobe Asia

RADM (Retd) Lee Goddard – Former Commander, Australia’s Maritime Border Command

📚 Read the publication here: https://navalinstitute.com.au/time-for-an-australian-coast-guard/

Show Notes: Episode 22: Royal Australian Navy fires Tomahawk and a round up of the week in maritime security

In this final episode of 2024, Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) wrap up the year in maritime affairs, reflecting on key issues and trends that shaped the domain. The series, which launched in April, has become a platform for thoughtful discussions on maritime strategy, security, and capability.

Episode Highlights

Topic 1: What’s Happening in the Region?

1. Scarborough Shoal Incident (Dec 4):

o Escalating tensions in the South China Sea as Chinese Coast Guard vessels confront Philippine patrols.

o Diplomatic protests from the Philippines signal a continued pushback against Beijing’s aggressive actions.

o More details.

2. Russian Submarine in the South China Sea:

o A Russian Kilo-class submarine, Ufa, transits near Philippine waters.

o Read more.

3. US, Japan, and Philippine Joint Patrols:

o Allied forces conduct coordinated patrols to assert freedom of navigation near Scarborough Shoal.

4. Taiwan Strait Tensions:

o Increased Chinese naval and air force activity in response to political developments in Taiwan.

Topic 2: Capability Updates

• Tomahawk Milestone:

o Australia successfully test-fires its first Tomahawk missile, signalling a leap in long-range strike capability.

o Details.

• Missile Manufacturing in Australia:

o Construction begins on a new cruise missile plant in Newcastle, boosting domestic production capacity.

• Land-Based Maritime Strike:

o The Australian Army progresses plans for coastal defence capabilities, with HIMARS and NSM under consideration.

Did You Know?

• This week’s segment explores definitions of long-range strike.

Links and Resources

• Jen’s recent publications:

o Time for an Australian Coastguard (https://navalinstitute.com.au/time-for-an-australian-coast-guard/)

o Export Control Shifts: Unlocking the Potential of AUKUS Collaboration (https://www.ecag.com.au/ecagnavigatordec2024)

o China's Push for Closer Defence Ties Is Unrealistic Without Behaviour Change (https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/no-ambassador-we-are-not-ready-to-get-tight-with-china-on-defence-20241121-p5ksl3)

• Missile range classification:

o https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/worldwide-ballistic-missile-inventories#:~:text=Medium%2Drange%20ballistic%20missiles%2C%20traveling,traveling%20more%20than%205%2C500%20kilometers.

Join us in 2025 as we continue to explore the ever-changing world of maritime strategy and security!

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Baltic Cable Incident & Uncrewed Capabilities in the Indo-Pacific

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

• Australian Coastguard

• Baltic submarine cable incidents

• Uncrewed vessels in the Indo-Pacific

• Task Force-Ayungin and US support for the Philippines

• Royal Navy cuts

• SEA3000 Down-select and Army Landing Craft Heavy

• Did You Know: Subsea cables

Time for an Australian Coast Guard - https://navalinstitute.com.au/time-for-an-australian-coast-guard/

Maritime Matters Episode Title: From the Red Sea, to the South China Sea & of course, SEA 3000

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

• Houthi attack on US Navy ships

• Recent developments in the South China Sea

• SEA 3000

• Decommissioning of HMAS Gascoyne

• 110th anniversary of the Sydney - Emden battle

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Exercise Autonomous Warrior & Natuna Sea

In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss the week that was in Maritime Matters, including:

• PLAN Carrier Exercises

• Exercise Autonomous Warrior

• Chinese Coastguard in Natuna Sea

• Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept

• Fire at BAE Systems Shipyard

• Orca & Evolved Cape Class

• Did you know – Tange Reforms