ADF keeping ‘close watch’ on Chinese warships spotted off Sydney
The ADF is keeping eagle-eyed after a trio of Chinese warships lurking off Australia’s east coast appeared near Sydney.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is keeping a “close watch” on a trio of Chinese warships creeping down Australia’s east coast, Richard Marles says.
Defence last week revealed it was monitoring two People’s Liberation Army-navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea, off Queensland.
An ADF update overnight said the flotilla had moved south, with reports it was spotted 150 nautical miles (278km) east of Sydney.
China’s foreign ministry has said it was “not familiar with the situation”, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday.
The Deputy Prime Minister said on Thursday the activity was “unusual”.
“We are keeping close watch on them, and we will be making sure that we watch every move and whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group, we will assess everything we have seen to make a proper assessment of exactly what they were trying to achieve through this mission,” Mr Marles told Sky News.
Mr Marles, who is also defence minister, swiftly added that the ships were “not doing anything that is contrary to international law”, echoing other Defence officials.
“But there is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event,” Mr Marles said.
“And just as they have a right to be in international waters, which is what they are doing, we have a right to be prudent and to make sure that we are surveilling them, which is what we are doing.
“So … early on here, I instructed that we needed to have assets, our own frigates and air assets, making sure that we are watching every move that they take.”
NewsWire understands this is the furthest down Australia’s east coast Chinese naval vessels have navigated.
In its update, Defence said it “routinely monitors” all ship activity in Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone and that Australia “respects” the internationally recognised right to freedom of navigation.
Mr Marles said they did not pose any immediate danger, but stressed Defence was trying to figure out what “the Chinese are seeking to achieve”.
“They’re not a threat in the sense that they are engaging in accordance with international law,” he said.
“But it is important that we understand exactly what is happening here.
“We will make sure that we look at every move they make to have a very clear assessment of what … the Chinese are seeking to achieve.”
The latest ADF update came just two days after senior Defence officials met with their Chinese counterparts in Beijing.
The Australian delegation “reiterated the importance of all countries in the region operating in a safe and professional manner at all times to avoid the risk of miscalculation or escalation”, according to an ADF statement.
It was a nod to an “unsafe and unprofessional” manouvre involving a Chinese warplane and an Australian surveillance aircraft also revealed last week.
The Australian plane was flying over the South China Sea when the Chinese fighter jet dropped flares in its path.
No damage was caused to the aircraft and its crew were not injured, but it followed a series of similar events dating back years.
Meanwhile, China’s defence ministry said the delegations “exchanged in-depth views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, regional security and other issues of common concern, and agreed to continue strengthening strategic communication in the defense field, properly handle disputes and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation”.
Originally published as ADF keeping ‘close watch’ on Chinese warships spotted off Sydney
Shock Higgins texts that sent man to jail
Vile texts threatening to “bury” Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, and “chop up” their dog Kingston can be revealed in full for the first time.
Shock Higgins texts that sent man to jail
Vile texts threatening to “bury” Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, and “chop up” their dog Kingston can be revealed in full for the first time.