Sailing in Australia’s exclusive economic zone, the three vessels were not breaking international law, but they were unusually far south on an undeclared mission.

The Australian and New Zealand militaries are monitoring three Chinese warships that are moving unusually far south along Australia’s east coast on an unknown mission

Notice of a Chinese live-fire naval exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand set off hyperbolic warnings about the “Chinese threat” and demands for greater military spending.