Satellite photos reveal Chinese flotilla monitored by ADF has formidable firepower

A Chinese naval flotilla that is being monitored by the Australian Defence Force has been revealed to have daunting firepower in new satellite imagery.

A private New Zealand intelligence company said it had detected the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships with satellite technology.

Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed this week that the ADF is tracking the Chinese task force, which was first reported by the Australian Financial Review last Thursday.

Private firm Starboard Maritime Intelligence says analysis of its satellite imagery shows a frigate, destroyer, Landing Helicopter Dock ship and replenishment vessel have been sailing through the Philippine Sea.

The company has released an image of the flotilla on X, captured about 260 nautical miles east of the Philippines.

"This formation represents a significant projection of expeditionary power, capable of operating untethered from shore-based ports for extended periods," commented Starboard Maritime Intelligence.

The company's analyst, Mark Douglas, told the ABC the PLA-N destroyer and the frigate offered defence for the flotilla, and that the frigate would be "looking for submarines that might be tracking the task group.

Marles, speaking yesterday during a visit to Papua New Guinea for a meeting with his PNG counterpart, reiterated he would not provide a "running commentary" about the Chinese task group.

"Obviously, we speak very closely with our friends and allies, and we will do that," he said.

The current flotilla comes almost 10 months after another Chinese task group circumnavigated Australia and launched live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea that were first discovered by a commercial airline pilot.

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