Authorities on high alert after three Chinese warships are seen lurking off the Australian coastline

The Australia Defence Force (ADF) is keeping an eye on three Chinese warships located off Australia’s northeast coast.

Defence officials said on Thursday they were monitoring two People’s Liberation Army-Navy frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea.

It comes just two days after a Chinese fighter had an ‘unsafe’ encounter with an Australian surveillance plane.

The ADF said the ships were abiding by international law.

“Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia,” the ADF said in a statement.

“Defence can confirm the Chinese vessels are the PLA-N Jiangkai-class frigate named Hengyang; the PLA-N Renhai cruiser named Zunyi and the PLA-N Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu.”