Chinese warships operate near Australia in unprecedented naval deployment

Chinese warships have been spotted 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, marking the furthest south the Chinese navy has operated along Australia's eastern coast. This deployment includes a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply ship. In response, the Australian Navy has sent two vessels to monitor the Chinese fleet. This situation follows a recent incident where a Chinese helicopter flew dangerously close to a Philippine coastguard plane, raising concerns about China's military activities in the region. The Chinese ships are operating in international waters, but their presence has raised suspicions. This operation is seen as a significant show of strength from Beijing, differing from previous visits that were pre-arranged with Australia.