Australia is taking part in naval exercise, likely to further escalate tensions with China.

Australia was formally invited to re-join the annual Malabar drills with the so-called "quad" countries, after the Rudd government withdrew from them in 2008.

U.S. aircraft carrier John C. Stennis during joint military exercise Malabar, with the United States, Japan and India participating, off Okinawa 15-6-16. Source: Getty Images