China's warships encircle Australia.

A flotilla of three Chinese navy ships sailed around Australia for nearly a month, moving in and out of its exclusive economic zone, conducting live-fire drills and forcing civilian flights to reroute.

China's two warships had 144 missile launchers, while Australia's entire fleet of 10 warships had only 200. Australia's two fuel tankers, crucial for long-range operations, were out of commission.

Australian navy is very much dependent on the United States, says NYT.

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This situation is likely to intensify Australia’s defense cooperation with the U.S., the U.K. (AUKUS), and other regional allies like India and Japan. It could also accelerate Australia's military modernization efforts, especially in missile defense and naval capabilities.