The ABC has confirmed that formal advice from Australian authorities has been issued by air traffic controllers, prompting several international flights to divert their course. Airservices Australia, which is responsible for aviation safety within the region, has referred all questions to the Department of Defence.
Today, Defence Minister Richard Marles stated Australian ships, and aircraft were cooperating "very closely" with New Zealand's military to monitor a Chinese naval taskforce transiting southeast off the east of Australia.
An earlier report from Washington said the flotilla was around 150 nautical miles (277 kilometres) east of Sydney. The Defence Department revealed last week the Chinese naval taskforce was being monitored in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, but within Australia's exclusive economic zone.
The department said the Chinese vessels were the Jiangki-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.
The Defence Department also confirmed last week that a Chinese fighter jet had set off flares in front of an Australian military aircraft, the interaction was deemed as unsafe and an unprofessional interaction.
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