Three Chinese naval vessels spotted in international waters off Australia have moved closer to the country, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said on Tuesday.
The ships have been observed conducting live firing exercises in the area, causing commercial flights to divert.
The ships were now 218 nautical miles (403 kilometres) off Australia, the NZDF said.
On Saturday they were about 350 nautical miles off the coast.
“The New Zealand Defence Force is using ships and aircraft to continue to monitor the Task Group, in close coordination with the Australian Defence Force,’’ it said in a statement.
The ship’s presence has caused concern in Australia and New Zealand, although both have been quick to point out the ships are in international waters and obeying international law.
On Sunday, China’s Ministry of National Defence spokesman Wu Qian said Australia deliberately exaggerated the live-fire exercises.
Wu said the training complied with international law and did not affect aviation safety.
China had also issued safety warnings, he said.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is in Beijing where he is expected to raise the issue during talks with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (dpa/NAN)
