Chinese naval group returns to South China Sea

A Chinese navy task group has returned to the South China Sea after a month-long journey around Australia. The group, which included a destroyer, a frigate, and a replenishment ship, completed its route from the eastern coast to the western coast of Australia from mid-February to early March. The deployment began near the Philippines, where China has ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea with several countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan. After the mission, two of the ships docked at Tien Sa Port in Vietnam, but it remains unclear if the destroyer Zunyi returned to China or stayed in the disputed waters. This visit by the Chinese navy coincided with Vietnam announcing its own territorial claims in the South China Sea and followed Chinese military exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin. Da Nang, where the ships docked, has previously welcomed U.S. naval vessels, showcasing America's naval influence in the region. In a recent statement, the Vietnamese military emphasized that the visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between the Chinese and Vietnamese navies. Meanwhile, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that Australian forces monitored the Chinese ships during their presence near Australia. Experts believe that the Chinese military may send more naval groups to the South Pacific in the near future as part of its broader strategy in the region.