Chinese Warships Make “Unusual” Trip Off Australian Coast, Escalating Tensions

Australia is on high alert after three Chinese naval vessels were spotted in international waters off its east coast.

The warships, including a guided-missile cruiser, a frigate, and a supply vessel, were seen about 150 nautical miles from Sydney, within Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

The Australian Defense Department confirmed the presence of the ships, stating that they were being closely monitored by the navy.

Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that while the vessels were operating legally in international waters, their presence so close to the Australian mainland was unusual. He assured that authorities were tracking their movements carefully.

New Zealand has also taken notice of the deployment, with Defense Minister Judith Collins confirming that her country is monitoring the situation.

She said that Beijing has not disclosed the purpose of this mission or provided any official communication about its naval operations in the region.

Tensions between Australia and China have escalated following a recent incident where a Chinese military aircraft conducted an “unsafe” manoeuvre near an Australian surveillance plane over the South China Sea.

Beijing dismissed the claims, asserting that the Australian aircraft had entered Chinese-controlled airspace.

Security experts believe that China’s growing naval presence in international waters is aimed at expanding global military influence.

Some suggest that it is a response to Australia’s participation in the freedom of navigation exercises in the contested South China Sea alongside the United States and its allies.

Despite improving diplomatic relations between Beijing and Canberra in recent years, incidents involving military forces continue to pose a risk.

Experts have warned that tensions between the two nations could increase as China continues to expand its naval capabilities.

Reference: Bloomberg, Aljazeera

Source: Maritime Shipping News