Chinese warships make ‘unusual’ voyage near US ally Australia

News Snapshot:

Australia is “keeping close watch on” Chinese military ships traversing waters off its coast, Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, noted during an interview on Sky News Australia. Marles said that the ships “have been abiding by international law,” though he described the situation as “not unprecedented, but an unusual event.” He said that while the ships have the right to be located in international waters, Australia has the right to surveil the ships. “Defense is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) task group operating to the north east of Australia,” a Feb. 13 Australian...