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• The New Zealand Defence Force has released new photos of the fleet as 
• The Chinese military admitted to conducting “live fire” drills which caused flight path disruptions.

The three Chinese Navy ships in the Tasman Sea have moved into Australia’s economic zone, with defence officials assuming the taskforce is backed by a nuclear-powered submarine.

It comes as the New Zealand navy crews monitoring the vessels release new photos of the fleet as they edge closer to our neighbour’s shores.

The ships have been sailing in international waters off Australia’s east coast and conducting live-firing exercises since last week, causing transtasman flights to divert.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said the Chinese ships have moved towards the south of Tasmania into Australia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). They said the ships are now moving west.

The NZDF have released fresh images of the Chinese ships. Photo / NZDF

The Navy said it would be continuing to monitor the ships in “close coordination with the Australian Defence Force” using the Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and maritime sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa.

Yesterday, the NZDF said the ships were 218 nautical miles east of Hobart, Tasmania. They were previously off the coast of Sydney.

Last week, the Chinese military came under scrutiny for not warning Australia or New Zealand of drills being performed in the Tasman Sea that included live firing beneath known flight paths.

RNZ reported the fleet consists of the Jiangkai-class frigate the Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser the Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel the Weishanhu.

The Chinese task group as seen from HMNZS Te Kaha and Seasprite helicopter. Photo / NZDF

On Tuesday, Defence officials confirmed the PLA-N flotilla had re-entered Australia’s exclusive economic zone, where it was being closely tracked as it operated around 160 nautical miles east of Hobart, RNZ reported.

A military figure, not authorised to speak publicly, told the ABC there was a “working assumption” that a taskforce comprising three warships so far from the Chinese mainland could have submarine support for at least part of the deployment.

Other navies that boasted nuclear-powered submarines, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, were known to regularly use them during lengthy and complex warship missions to gather valuable intelligence on potential adversaries.

Defence Minister Collins Judith Collins said the Government didn’t know if they intended to come closer to New Zealand.

Collins said she didn’t think New Zealand had seen a live military exercise in the Tasman Sea that had affected flights.

On Friday, she vented frustration at the Chinese Government for not informing New Zealand it would be sending a “highly capable” strike force with “enormous strike power” down the east coast of Australia.

She said the Chinese Government and Chinese Embassy had given New Zealand no notice it would be sending the strike force into the region.

“They have not deigned to advise us on what they are doing in the middle of the Tasman Sea,” she said.

China’s Defence Ministry hit back on Sunday, saying the “relevant remarks of the Australian side are completely inconsistent with facts”, while confirming the use of live ammunition.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.