The Australian navy deployed three vessels and surveillance aircraft to “keep a close eye” on a Chinese task group that has been operating “in the vicinity of Australia” since mid-February, the Australian defense minister said. Richard Marles, who is also a deputy prime minister, said in
an interviewon Thursday that three Anzac-class frigates - HMAS Stuart, HMAS Warramunga and HMAS Toowoomba were monitoring the Chinese warships that were about 500 kilometers (310 miles) northwest of Perth.
“From the very moment that this task force came within the vicinity of Australia, in an unprecedented way, we have been surveilling its movements,” Marles said. “We will continue to stay with them so long as they are within the vicinity of Australia.”
The Chinese task group includes the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.
