Despite the heightened tension between China and other claimant countries over the issue of 'freedom of navigation' patrols in the South China Sea, Australia is reportedly considering conducting military exercises near China's reclaimed islands, testing Beijing's hold on the disputed waters.

Reports indicate that Australia's national security committee has been briefed about the possible military repercussions of such an assertive act, but Canberra remains keen on the planned exercises saying that it will be beneficial to its military operations.

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                                               "Freedom of Navigation"

Australian defense officials said the planned exercises were part of the topics discussed between Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and White House officials during his recent visit to the US.

The so-called "Freedom of Navigation" exercises are intended to send a signal to Beijing to loosen its tight grip on the disputed  international waterway.

Although no decision has been made by Australian defense and military authorities, it has been reported that the Australian navy and air force have already operated in the South China Sea and were, in fact, warned by the Chinese military.

                                                  Routine patrols

Reports indicate that Australian RAAF aircrafts, flying from its Butterworth air force base in Malaysia, routinely patrols the disputed waters to help ensure peace and order in the region.

Last November, an Australian aircraft flew near China's construction work in the disputed Spratlys islands during its routine patrol.

China's state-run newspaper, the Global Times, in an editorial,  threatened Australian forces saying " It would be a shame if one day a plane fell from the sky and it happened to be Australian.

                                                         War

Last year, People's Liberation Army Navy Admiral Wu Shengli was quoted saying to a US admiral that war would erupt if the US continues to test China's sovereignty over the islands.

The US Navy has been actively patrolling the waterway and in October sent one of its modern missile destroyers--the USS Lassen--within 12 nautical miles of an island build by Beijing in the contested Spratlys.

                                                     Artificial Islands

China started building and reclaiming islands in the South China Sea, particularly in the Spratlys and Paracel reefs and islands, in 2014.

Despite protests from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, who have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, Beijing has continued to build airstrips, seaports, and other facilities on the islands.

The United Nations has already laid out its territorial policy in regards to the South China Sea, but China has dismissed it.

                                                   Standardized formula

The United Nations had said that it does not accept the validity of territorial claims around artificially-built islands.

A standardized formula, it said, for the calculation of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has been in place since World War II. 

TagsExclusive economic zone, artificial islands, Beijing, Australian military, Freedom of Navigation