China’s warships are turning up in unexpected places and alarming US allies. Is this the new normal?

Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia’s coastline for more than three weeks, passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand. The exercises, which came without formal notice, have deep caused consternation in both nations. Suddenly, the specter of China’s military power was suddenly no longer confined to the distant