On the eve of the Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary, three Chinese warships make a surprise visit to Sydney Harbour.

The unannounced visit took everyone in Sydney by surprise, yet Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists he’s known about the visit for weeks.

“The arrival is being seen as a display of power by the Chinese Navy,” Ben Fordham says.

However, retired Major General Jim Molan tells Ben Fordham he doesn’t think there needed to be much publicity about the arrival of the warships.

“It’s commendable that the government didn’t use this for its own political benefit,” says Senator Molan.

The arrival of these warships coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, which saw soldiers open fire on students.

Senator Molan acknowledges the timing seems like a clash but is likely due to an oversight, and doesn’t believe there’s any link between “the visit of the three ships and the Tiananmen Square activities”.

“The Tiananmen commemoration on June the 4th is quite significant because it represents a missed opportunity for China to democratise.”

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Professor Clive Hamilton says there should have been a warning.

“Given the sensitivities about China and Australia, I think it was a slip up by the government not to let us know.”

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