Gessler reported on July 31, 2023:
"Also, India is sending observers for this year's Talisman Sabre [2023] exercise. The next edition of the exercise may or may not see full fledged participation by the Indian military."
Pete Comment
Gessler also identified this July 21, 2023 Australian Defence Ministers' Media Release, which stated, in part:
"Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise with United
States, Exercise Talisman Sabre, officially commences today with an opening
ceremony on-board [the LHD] HMAS Canberra...at Sydney’s Fleet Base East.
Over the next two weeks 13 nations will participate in high-end multi-domain warfighting across sea, land, air, cyber and space.
Now in its tenth iteration, 2023 is the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre in terms of its geographical area and the number of participating partners.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and develop strong relationships between participating military forces. It will involve field training exercises including force preparation and logistics activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, air combat and maritime operations.
Talisman Sabre 2023 will involve more than 30,000 military personnel deploying across Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. For the first time exercises will also take part around Norfolk Island.
In addition to the United States, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and the United Kingdom will participate in the exercise. Personnel from India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are attending as observers..."
Pete Comment
China's observers in the shape of a Dongdiao-class Type 815 spy ship, Pennant Number 793, were not actually invited. Such activity is legal.
Even the US does it. Even at the risk of rather energetic PLA-N argy-bargy.