Judith Collins: Defence Minister on the Chinese navy ships in the Tasman Sea - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Three Chinese navy vessels have entered the Tasman Sea, off of Australia's coast.

The New Zealand Defence Force is monitoring the vessels - which are about 280 kilometres east of Sydney.

Defence Minister Judith Collins says this is the first time China's sent such capable war ships this far south.

"They're really quite stunning pieces of equipment and we've never seen them in this area before."

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.