Talisman Sabre 2025: Australia’s Record Drills Underway as PM Albanese Meets Xi in Beijing
Talisman Sabre 2025: Australia’s Record Drills Underway as PM Albanese Meets Xi in Beijing
Australia’s largest-ever military exercise, Talisman Sabre 2025, is currently underway, involving over 35,000 personnel from 19 nations. The massive war-fighting drills commenced on Sunday, July 13, 2025, and are expected to run for three weeks, drawing significant regional and international attention, particularly from China.
Key events of the exercise include the Australian Army’s first-ever live-fire of its newly acquired M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. This year marks a significant expansion, with activities also taking place in Papua New Guinea for the first time.
Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed that Chinese surveillance ships are anticipated to monitor the exercises, a pattern observed in previous Talisman Sabre events since 2017. Despite the close scrutiny, Australian officials indicate they will adapt their operations accordingly.
The commencement of these drills coincides with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s six-day visit to China, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Albanese has stated that the Chinese surveillance of Talisman Sabre will not be a point of contention in his discussions with President Xi, asserting Australia’s national interests.
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