The Australian Defence Force is closely monitoring a group of Chinese naval vessels which have peered off the coast of Sydney.
Authorities say this is the furthest Chinese navies ventured south along the Australian coastline. Two Australian warships are tailing the fleet.
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Defence Minister Richard Marles told the ABC last week Defence was closely monitoring the ships. Two People’s Liberation Army-navy (PLA-N) frigates and another vessel in were seen in the Coral Sea, east of Queensland.
Overnight, the ADF announced one of the ships traveled south and appeared 150 nautical miles off the coast of Sydney.
“I’ve instructed that Navy and Air Force assets be deployed to make sure that we are watching exactly what the task group is doing,” Marles said.
“We’ll do that in a manner that is safe and professional. That’s very much our right.”
Mr Marles said although the activity of the Chinese vessel ships is “unusual”, he flagged they were “not doing anything contrary to international law”.
Defence have said the vessel did not pose any immediate danger. However, he said they are monitoring them closely and trying to figure out what “the Chinese are seeking to achieve”.
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