It’s believed the Chinese ships will remain outside Australian territorial waters throughout the games.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton says: “We are aware that a second People’s Liberation Army (navy) General Intelligence Ship, the Haiwangxing (AGI-792) is approaching Australia’s east coast via the Solomon Sea.”
WATCHING CLOSELY
Earlier in the week, Australian PM Scott Morrison said the government was watching the Chinese ship, Tianguanxing closely.
“The Haiwangxing, like it’s sister ship the Tianguanxing, has acted lawfully during it’s transit and we expect it to continue to do so,” Mr Dutton said.
The two vessels did not travel to the area together and approached on different routes several days apart.
As part of the Talisman Sabre exercise last week the US Army fired a Patriot missile in Australia for the first time.
The current training operation is the ninth iteration of the Talisman Sabre exercise.