(TNND) — The Australian military is closely monitoring three Chinese warships sailing along Australia’s east coast on an unknown mission, officials said Thursday.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, said in an interview with Sky News that the Australian military is “keeping close watch on” them.
In the interview, Marles told Sky News that “there is no doubt that this is, not unprecedented, but an unusual event.”
Marles said that the warships have the right to be in international waters, but that Australia also has the right to monitor them and stay vigilant.
The Financial Times reported that the task group from China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army, was 150 nautical miles east of Sydney.
The New Zealand military was also closely monitoring the warships with Australia, according to The Associated Press.
Australian and Chinese relations remain rocky, where just last week a Chinese fighter released flares that Australia claimed endangered an Australian military plane over the South China Sea.
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