The presence of China and other new entrants was declared a success by the Royal Australian Navy as it ended its largest military, maritime and air exercise in Darwin.
Exercise Kakadu involved 27 visiting nations, 23 ships, 21 aircraft, a submarine and 3000 personnel, most of whom have been in the Timor Sea off Darwin, participating in military exercises including live fire tasks for much of the last fortnight.
The presence of the People's Liberation Army - the world's second-largest navy - participating in exercises involving the US in Australian waters comes at a time when there have been tensions over the build up of Chinese forces in the South China Sea.
Commander of the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, said the exercises had benefits in building understanding and trust with new nations such as China.
"We've really brought together many different navies from many different nations into an exercise that I certainly think they value," Commander Mead told reporters in Darwin.
"They see us as a credible, valued, quality partner that can conduct these types of exercises
"For those that we've brought in for the very first time we've made considerable efforts to get them through the exercise to try and make sure that they get as much out of it as they can."
The exercises had also involved working with Pacific nations on tackling crime, illegal fishing and disaster relief to increase their capability, Commander Mead said.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said the exercises enhanced regional maritime security, were a military high point for Australia significant diplomatic achievement.
"The exercise provided a useful opportunity to work with naval forces from across the Indo-Pacific and promote greater levels of regional military cooperation," he said.
