Aussies putting a P8 ASY180 (sub hunter/ASW) over the Straits of Malacca is a direct poke at China. The Malaccan straits are to Indo China navigation what the Panama Canal is to the Americas or the Suez Canal is to the EU. It is the prize and one of China's main strategic objectives…more important than the bases in the South China Sea. Together China can choke West Pac.
Looks like the world and Australia are saying 'not so fast'.
Also, the Aussie's military sortie count has probably tripled in the past week. Lot's of coastal sub hunting going on, as well as stuff moving around…incl troops.