KARACHI, Pakistan

Australia on Wednesday said its defense forces are monitoring three Chinese navy ships, which are “understood to be sailing” east of Sydney.

An Australian Defense Department spokesperson said that Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser named Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu have continued sailing down the coast after being spotted to the northeast of the country last week, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"Defense routinely monitors all maritime traffic in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and maritime approaches," the unnamed spokesperson said in a statement.

The ships are believed to have been about 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales state.

When asked, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing: "I’m not familiar with what you mentioned. I would refer you to the competent Chinese authorities for relevant questions."