Dhaka, July 14 -- Australia has launched its largest-ever edition of the Talisman Sabre war games, a massive multinational military exercise that is expected to draw attention from Chinese surveillance vessels.

Held biennially since 2005, the joint U.S.-Australia-led drills have expanded significantly over the years. This year's edition involves over 35,000 military personnel from 19 countries, including Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom, according to a statement from Australia's defense department on Sunday.

Malaysia and Vietnam are attending the three-week exercise as observers....