The Australia Defence Force (ADF) is keeping an eye on three Chinese warships located off Australia’s northeast coast.
Defence officials said on Thursday they were monitoring two People’s Liberation Army-Navy frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea.
It comes just two days after a Chinese fighter had an ‘unsafe’ encounter with an Australian surveillance plane.
The ADF said the ships were abiding by international law but did not know what the Chinese Navy’s goal was.
“Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia,” the ADF said in a statement.
“Defence can confirm the Chinese vessels are the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang; the PLA-N Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.”
Defence said the ships had travelled through Southeast Asia, before entering Australia’s maritime approaches.
It said one of the frigates “transited the waters to Australia’s north”, but the ADF was not panicking about the situation.
Chinese warships have been spotted off Australia’s northeast coast
“Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia’s right to do the same,” the ADF said.
“Defence will continue to monitor the activities of the task group in Australia’s maritime approaches with a combination of capabilities, including air and maritime assets.”
Just days ago an Australian surveillance aircraft had what was desbribed as an “unsafe and unprofessional interaction” with the Chinese warplane.
On February 11, a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares within 30 metres of the Australian military plane during a patrol flight over the South China Sea.
The RAAF plane was flying during daylight hours when flares were dropped above and in front of it.
“This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” the ADF said.
No personnel were injured and the RAAF plane was not damaged.
“Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner,” the ADF said.
“For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.”
