Australia is closely monitoring an “unusual” presence of three Chinese warships sailing along its eastern coastline, Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed.
The fleet—comprising a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply tanker—was first spotted last week in waters off mainland Australia and has since been charting a course southward along the eastern seaboard.
“We are keeping a close watch on them, and we will make sure we are watching every move,” Marles told Sky News. While he acknowledged that such naval activity isn’t unprecedented, he described it as “unusual.”
Marles reassured Australians that the Chinese vessels pose no immediate threat and are operating within international law. However, their presence comes amid rising tensions between the two nations.
Just last week, Australia rebuked Beijing for what it called “unsafe” military conduct—specifically, a Chinese fighter jet dropping flares near an Australian Air Force plane conducting patrols over the South China Sea.
China swiftly pushed back, accusing Australia of violating its sovereignty and threatening national security.
This latest incident is part of an ongoing series of tense encounters between Chinese and Australian forces in the Asia-Pacific region:
- 2024: A Chinese fighter jet was accused of intercepting an Australian Seahawk helicopter in international airspace, deploying flares directly in its path.
- 2023: A Chinese destroyer allegedly fired sonar pulses at Australian Navy divers operating off Japan, causing minor injuries.
