Australian Department of Defense said on Friday, there is a People's Liberation Army Navy intelligence gathering ship operating off it's north-west shelf.
The ship was identified as a Chinese Dongdiao-class auxiliary intelligence ship, the Haiwangxing #792. On May 6th, monitored by a Royal Australian Air force P-8 Poseidon on maritime patrol, the Haiwangxing was near the Harold E. Holt Communications Station, Exmouth Western Australia, at about 70 nautical miles out.
The ship was continually monitored by Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon's as well as a Maritime Border Command Dash-8 aircraft and the Cape Sorell, ABF patrol vessel was dispatched to monitor.
The last track was on Friday at 6 a.m. local time, approximately 250 nautical miles northwest of Broome Western Australia.
Reuters has further stated that a request for comment was sent to the Chinese embassy in Australia, but Reuters has not received a response to the request.
Source #1 USNI News
Source #2 Reuters
Source #3 Military.com
The ship was identified as a Chinese Dongdiao-class auxiliary intelligence ship, the Haiwangxing #792. On May 6th, monitored by a Royal Australian Air force P-8 Poseidon on maritime patrol, the Haiwangxing was near the Harold E. Holt Communications Station, Exmouth Western Australia, at about 70 nautical miles out.
The ship was continually monitored by Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon's as well as a Maritime Border Command Dash-8 aircraft and the Cape Sorell, ABF patrol vessel was dispatched to monitor.
The last track was on Friday at 6 a.m. local time, approximately 250 nautical miles northwest of Broome Western Australia.
Reuters has further stated that a request for comment was sent to the Chinese embassy in Australia, but Reuters has not received a response to the request.
Source #1 USNI News
Source #2 Reuters
Source #3 Military.com