The Australian Defence Force has detected three Chinese warships navigating international waters off the coast of the country's largest city, Sydney. However, these vessels have not violated any maritime laws and pose no threat.
According to reports from Bloomberg and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Australian Department of Defence said in an emailed statement on the evening of the 19th that the three Chinese warships are: Hengyang, a Jiangkai-class (054A) frigate; Zunyi, a Renhai-class (055) cruiser; and Weishanhu, a Fuchi-class (903) supply ship.
The statement mentioned that the fleet was detected off Australia's northeast coast last week and has been navigating south along the coastline. "The Department of Defence routinely monitors all maritime traffic through Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and sea lanes."
The Australian Defence Department's statement did not specify the exact position of the Chinese warships. The Financial Times reported that these warships are currently approximately 150 nautical miles (277 kilometers) east of Sydney.
During a routine press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun did not confirm the aforementioned activity. He simply stated: “I am unaware of the specific situation you mentioned and recommend you inquire with the competent Chinese authorities.”
Australian Defence Minister Marles remarked in an interview with Sky News on the 20th: “We are closely monitoring them (the Chinese warships) and are ensuring that every action of theirs is observed.”
He added, “Once the mission of this Chinese task force is concluded, we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their actions to accurately assess their true intentions on this voyage.”
Marles described the situation as: “This is not unprecedented, but it is indeed an unusual event. Just as they have the right to navigate international waters... we have the right to be cautious and ensure surveillance, which is exactly what we are doing.”