Three Chinese warships with 700 sailors on board will spend the next four days docked in Sydney Harbour on an unannounced visit.

The ‘secret visit’ comes just days after it was revealed that a Chinese warship had confronted an Australian vessel in the South China Sea, with Australian helicopter pilots targeted with lasers.

Footage emerged of the warships’ arrival into Sydney on Monday morning with sailors lined up on the ships in combat uniform, with some carrying guns.

The appearance of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA- N) frigate, an auxiliary replenishment ship, and an amphibious vessel docked at Garden Island, comes amid heightened concern about Beijing’s growing clout and military muscle flexing.