The vessels were sailing in the Tasman Sea, and their announced intent to perform exercises prompted a call for commercial flights to divert course.

Australian officials said the ships were “off the east coast of Australia” and their presence there was unusual.

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

Australia and New Zealand are monitoring a group of Chinese naval vessels spotted in international waters near Sydney, the countries’ defence ministers said on Thursday. Three Chinese vessels are traveling down the eastern coast of Australia,