Three ships circled land features, including some where Vietnam has built facilities, last week, according to maritime tracking data.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) expressed concern on 20 October at what it said was an unsafe interaction with a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air

China has fiercely hit back at Australia over an airspace interaction between the two countries that has seen tensions flare, and claimed an Australian plane “seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty”.

Australia condemned a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet for unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers over the South China Sea on Sunday. A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon was conducting a maritime patrol when the aircraft released flares dangerously close.

Australia has accused a Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares "in close proximity" to its patrol jet over the South China Sea. The Australian government has raised its concern with Beijing over the "unsafe and unprofessional" manoeuvre, the defence department said in a statement on Monday.

Philippine, American, Japanese, Canadian and French forces held surface warfare drills in the South China Sea this week in Manila’s latest multilateral naval exercise. The combat training activities off Western Palawan are under Sama Sama,