The Australia-China Defence Coordination Dialogue was held on 17 September and marked the first such meeting since October 2024. It brought together senior officials from Australia’s Department of Defence and China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Bernard Philip, first assistant secretary for international policy at Australia’s Department of Defence, led the Australian delegation. China was represented by Major General Ye Jiang, deputy director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation.
Australia specifically raised China’s 6 July 2026 submarine-launched ballistic missile test. Its concerns formed part of a broader discussion about military conduct, transparency and stability across the region.
Canberra also stressed the need for countries to follow international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It said regional actors should respect national sovereignty, support peace and stability, and provide reassurance about their intentions.
The two delegations exchanged views on regional and global security developments. They also considered opportunities for future engagement and discussed the importance of maintaining dialogue to manage differences between the two countries.
The talks are an officials-level channel between Australia’s Department of Defence and the People’s Liberation Army. The previous Defence Coordination Dialogue was also held in Beijing in October 2024.
