The Australia Defence Force (ADF) is keeping an eye on three Chinese warships located off Australia’s northeast coast.
Defence officials said on Thursday they were monitoring two People’s Liberation Army-Navy frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea.
It comes just two days after a Chinese fighter had an ‘unsafe’ encounter with an Australian surveillance plane.
The ADF said the ships were abiding by international law.
“Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia,” the ADF said in a statement.
“Defence can confirm the Chinese vessels are the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang; the PLA-N Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.”

Chinese warships have been spotted off Australia’s northeast coast