China did not formally inform the Defence its three warships off Australian waters were to undertake live fire testing, which forced a warning to commercial flights in the area.

Three Chinese military ships are moving steadily down the east coast of Australia, the furthest they have gone in the waters without being on an official visit.

The Australian Defence Force is keeping three Chinese warships spotted 150 nautical miles from Sydney under close surveillance. The vessels were first detected in international waters off north-east Queensland last week and have been sailing steadily down the coast in recent days.

Australian officials said the ships were "off the east coast of Australia" and their presence there was unusual.

Sky News host Rita Panahi discusses a group of Chinese warships which were spotted sailing 276 kilometres away from Sydney.

Australia and New Zealand are working together to monitor a Chinese naval task group which has been labelled a "wake-up call" by senior officials.