Australia and New Zealand Monitor Unusual Presence of Chinese Warships Off Eastern Coast
Australia and New Zealand are closely monitoring the presence of three Chinese naval vessels—a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply tanker—spotted in international waters off Australia’s eastern coast.
The warships, first detected last week, have since moved south and were last reported 150 nautical miles east of Sydney. While Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the presence of the ships as unusual, he emphasized that they are not a threat and are operating within international law, just as Australia has the right to surveil them.
New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins also confirmed that her country’s forces are tracking the vessels, with no communication from China regarding their purpose. This development follows rising tensions between Australia and China, particularly after an incident where a Chinese fighter jet allegedly dropped flares near an Australian military aircraft in the South China Sea.
Similar confrontations have occurred in recent years, including an alleged interception of an Australian helicopter in 2024 and a 2023 incident where a Chinese destroyer reportedly used sonar pulses on Australian navy divers near Japan.
