Once upon a time, China participated in large multilateral military exercises, with RIMPAC in Hawaii being a notable example. However, China’s increasingly assertive stance in regional territorial disputes has led to its exclusion from Western-led military exercises. Despite this, China indirectly contributes to such exercises by encouraging concerned nations to come together and train, presenting a united front against aggressive Chinese behaviour.
This dynamic is currently unfolding in Exercise Pitch Black 2024, held in Australia from July 12 to August 2. This year’s exercise is the largest in its 43-year history, with over 140 aircraft and 4,435 personnel from 20 countries participating. The unprecedented scale of the exercise underscores growing alarm over Chinese intentions in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The participating countries include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the UK, and the USA. This diverse list features numerous countries with direct territorial disputes with China, such as India, Japan, and the Philippines. Notably, the Philippines is participating in Pitch Black for the first time, deploying four FA-50PH light fighters, marking the first overseas deployment of its fledgling fighter force.
Colonel Randy M. Pascua, Contingent Commander of the Philippine Air Force, emphasised the exercise’s significance for his country’s operational capability development.
“For us, this is not a preparation for anything that is happening in our country. Our main purpose for being here is to develop our operational capability, focusing on the development of the skills of the fighter pilots, as well as the maintenance, which is necessary when we get the higher level of aircraft, which is the multirole fighter,” he said.
This statement aligns with Manila’s ongoing competition to acquire new multirole fighters, driven by the perceived threat from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Another significant development in Pitch Black 2024 is the substantial European involvement, with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK participating.
These countries are expressing their alarm at China’s disregard for international norms and regulations in critical regions like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Italy and Spain are joining the exercise for the first time, with Italy sending its aircraft carrier Cavour as part of a broader five-month deployment around the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, France, Germany, and Spain are conducting a complex air force deployment called Pacific Skies, training progressively in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Australia, and India.
The consistent refrain from participating nations highlights partnership, interoperability, and shared values.
Air Commodore Peter Robinson, Officer Commanding Exercise from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), stated,
“We have brought like-minded nations that will come together and exercise together. We build capabilities together, we build friendships together, we build relationships together, and we leave the exercise much stronger as partners.”
Similarly, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Nickell, US Air Force (USAF) Pitch Black Detachment Commander, remarked, “Pitch Black is a great opportunity for us to exercise closely with our allies and partners to bolster our combined and joint capabilities.”
“True integration takes understanding and trust. This is our opportunity to learn from each other and contribute to stability in the region through longstanding partnerships,”
Colonel Nickell added.
Participants have emphasised that Pitch Black scenarios are not aimed at any single country, such as China. Instead, interoperability is the key aim, as allies must know how to operate together in peacetime, in case they are ever required to fight side by side.
Group Captain Gary Sadler of the RAAF responded to inquiries about the exercise’s focus, saying, “The simple answer is no, there isn’t a particular threat, if you like, that we’re trying to address. All of the countries get to be both blue and red [forces] in this scenario, because that’s where we get the maximum benefit for all of the countries and the combinations of different types of aircraft in the airspace at the same time.”
The logistical effort to run such a large, multinational exercise in Australia’s Northern Territory is substantial. Here, the threat from China plays a role. Australia’s National Defence Strategy document, released in April, lists six priorities for the Australian Defence Force. These include improving the ability to operate from northern bases in Australia, “holding an adversary at risk farther from our shores,” and employing a strategy of denial.
Major renovations and expansions of facilities at air bases such as Darwin and Tindal are part of this strategy. At Tindal, new aprons are being constructed to accommodate USAF B-52 bombers. In any conflict with China, northern Australia would play a vital role. Australia is also overhauling other remote air bases across the north to ensure they can be used in an expeditionary manner if needed.
France, as Europe’s only “Pacific nation,” is preparing for conflict in the region. France’s Ambassador to Australia, Pierre-Andre Imbert, noted, “These air combat training exercises provide us with a great opportunity to develop interoperability between the latest-generation fighters (F-35, Rafale), so as to be ready for tomorrow’s high-intensity conflicts.”
Last year, a deployment of Rafale fighters to New Caledonia saw the aircraft rehearsing countering a notional enemy attacking from the north, the direction PLA forces would likely take if planning to invade the South Pacific.
Numerous countries in the Asia-Pacific are preparing in similar ways. No. 75 Squadron of the RAAF, which flies the F-35A fighter from Tindal Air Base, is at the forefront of countering threats from the north. Group Captain Sadler added, “I think this sort of activity reflects the commitment to transparency, to make sure that everybody is fully aware of what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re going about it.”
“Bringing all these countries together, it’s about the shared values that we have for security, stability, peace, and prosperity in the region for all participants.”
As this coalition of nations builds, major powers like the USA are keen to broaden the base and deepen relationships.
Lieutenant Colonel Ty Bridge of the USAF explained, “Well, it reflects the mutual trust and respect, in my opinion, and the intent for everyone to be able to come together and focus on air tactics regardless of policy or politics that may be out there. It has been extremely impressive to be able to see the variety of different aircrews and the professionalism they have…”
With 20 countries participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2024, it highlights China’s limited circle of friends. The Pentagon’s most recent report on the PLA states that Beijing will “continue to expand the PLA’s global military presence through humanitarian assistance, naval escorts and port calls, peacekeeping operations, arms sales, influence operations, and bilateral and multilateral military exercises.”
China often relies on senior military visits, bilateral and multilateral exercises and training, peacekeeping, and military assistance to promote its foreign policy objectives.
In July, China was working militarily with Russia in a naval exercise called Joint Sea-2024 in waters near Zhanjiang in southern China. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence, stated, “The ongoing exercise is to demonstrate the resolve and capabilities of the two sides in jointly addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability.”
Exercise Pitch Black 2024 is a testament to the growing unity among nations concerned about regional security threats. As these countries continue to collaborate and strengthen their ties, they send a clear message of solidarity and preparedness in the face of evolving challenges.
Support Our Journalism
Global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today – with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors – is doing just that. Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon and support honest and fearless journalism.
