A Chinese spy ship has been detected off the Australian coast near joint war games underway between the United States, New Zealand and Australian militaries, the Australian Defense Force (ADF).
The ADF said the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy Type 815 Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence vessel was operating on the northeast coast during the Talisman Sabre war games.
A statement from the defense department proved that the spy ship had remained outside Australia’s territorial waters but entered its exclusive economic zone. The spy ship appearance has not diverted from the exercise objectives.
More than 30,000 troops of the United States, New Zealand, and Australia are in biennial war games, which ends in late July.
China’s increasing military presence, particularly in the disputed the South China Sea, has grown pressures with regional neighbors and drawn criticism from both the United States and Australia.
Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters by international law.
