‘Extremely capable’ weapons on Chinese warships off Australia’s east coast, NZ government says

<p>New Zealand defence minister Judith Collins says department has ‘never seen a task group of this capability undertaking this sort of work’</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/24/australia-politics-live-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-russia-ukraine-medicare-gap-fee-bulk-billing-senate-estimates-cost-of-living-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>New Zealand’s defence minister has warned that Chinese warships located off the east coast of Australia are armed with “extremely capable” weapons that could reach Australia.</p><p>The three vessels, known as Taskgroup 107, undertook <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/22/china-conducts-second-live-fire-drill-near-new-zealand">two live-fire exercises</a> in the seas between Australia and New Zealand last week, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/21/commercial-flights-diverted-as-chinese-warships-undertake-apparent-live-fire-drill-in-sea-between-australia-and-new-zealand">causing commercial flights to be diverted</a> in the skies above.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/24/extremely-capable-weapons-on-chinese-warships-off-australias-east-coast-nz-government-says">Continue reading...</a>