Australia says the presence of a Chinese spy ship in its waters is an ‘act of aggression’

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said a Chinese intelligence vessel was tracked off the west coast of Australia in what he called an “act of aggression” by Beijing.

Australia tracked China’s spy ship last week as it passed the Harold E Holt naval communications station at Exmouth, which is used by Australian, American and Allied submarines.

“I think it is an act of aggression. I think particularly because it came so far south,” Dutton told a news conference. “It is close to military and intelligence facilities on the west coast of Australia”

The country will hold its national election on May 21 and allegations of the threat to national security posed by China have been a major campaign theme.

Dutton questioned the “strange timing” of the ship’s presence due to the election campaign.

Chinese naval vessels have been tracked off Australia’s north and east coasts several times in recent years.

In February, Beijing and Canberra blamed each other for an incident in which an Australian maritime patrol aircraft detected a laser aimed at it from a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel.

Australia has released photos of two Chinese ships involved in this incident sailing near its northern coast.

Australia’s Department of Defense said in a statement that the Dongdiao-class Auxiliary Intelligence ship called the Haiwangxing traveled along the west coast, crossing Australia’s Economic Exclusion Zone on 6 May and arriving within 50 nautical miles of the communications station on 11 of May.

Dutton said Australia has made it a practice to raise public awareness of the presence of Chinese naval vessels.