Chinese navy vessels sailing inside Australia’s exclusive economic zone, south of Hobart, may be ‘testing US allies as Donald Trump resets relationships in Europe’

Chinese warships south of Hobart appear likely to sail through the Great Australian Bight, and could be accompanied by an undetected nuclear submarine, the chief of the Australian defence force has said.

Admiral David Johnston appeared before Senate estimates on Wednesday morning, saying the ADF had been surveilling the three People’s Liberation Army-Navy vessels since they split from a larger “taskgroup” and sailed into Australian waters from southeast Asia last week.

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