Australian Navy Closely Monitoring Chinese Warships Near East Coast
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Synopsis
On February 20, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the close monitoring of three Chinese navy warships spotted off the east coast. Australian military forces are collaborating with New Zealand's military to keep an eye on the situation, amid rising tensions between Australia and China.
Key Takeaways
- Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed monitoring of Chinese naval vessels.
- The three Chinese ships include the Hengyang, Zunyi, and Weishanhu.
- Collaboration with New Zealand's military is ongoing.
- Concerns have arisen over the Chinese military's actions in the region.
- A full assessment will follow the Chinese task group's mission.
Sydney, Feb 20 (NationPress) Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Thursday that the nation will closely monitor the movements of three Chinese navy warships that have been spotted off the east coast.
The three vessels include the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment ship Weishanhu. These ships were detected off the coast of north-east Queensland last week and have been under surveillance as they head south.
Marles stated that Australian naval and aerial forces are collaborating closely with the military of New Zealand to track the Chinese naval task force as it navigates southward along Australia’s eastern coastline, according to reports from Australian media.
He added, “After the Chinese task group's mission concludes, we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their objectives during this operation. Both naval and air force resources are deployed to ensure we monitor the situation accurately. We are cooperating with regional partners and will continue this effort for as long as the Chinese task force remains near Australia.” This was conveyed in an official statement from the Defence Minister.
Conversely, when inquired about the presence of these ships, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun refrained from commenting, stating he was “unfamiliar” with the circumstances, as reported by Australian media.
Last week, the Australian Ministry of Defence issued a statement confirming awareness of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the northeast of Australia. They confirmed the identities of the Chinese vessels as the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the PLA-N Renhai cruiser Zunyi, and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.
Recent tensions escalated last week when a Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian Air Force aircraft operating over the South China Sea. The Australian government has voiced its concerns to the Chinese government, labeling the actions of the Chinese military aircraft as “unsafe and unprofessional.”
