Australia: Australia on Monday said it is tracking a Chinese navy flotilla operating in the Philippine Sea amid concerns it could move toward Australian waters, local media reported. Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that Canberra will keep a close watch on the flotilla until officials are confident it is not heading toward Australia.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marles mentioned that the Australian Defense Force operates to the country's north and maintains assets and capabilities 'in our areas of key interest.' He emphasized the importance of maritime domain awareness and assured that the authorities are aware of activities in key areas.

Marles declined to disclose the 'direct source' of the monitoring effort but reassured that Australia has a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Meanwhile, in response to Marles' remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that Chinese naval fleets consistently respect and adhere to international laws and conduct maritime activities in accordance with international legal norms, as reported by the state-run Global Times.