Chinese spy ship spotted circling Australian coast

A sophisticated Chinese spy ship spent three weeks collecting sensitive electronic intelligence off the coast of Australia, passing some of the nation’s most critical military installations.

A sophisticated Chinese spy ship spent three weeks collecting sensitive electronic intelligence off the coast of Australia in August and September, on a mission that took it past some of the country’s most critical military installations.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the vessel was a Dongdiao-class spy ship, similar to the ship which monitored the 2021 Talisman Sabre military exercises between Australia and the United States.

However Defence sources have told The Telegraph that this ship appeared to be a different vessel, given its markings. The ship’s visit was described as unusual and a surprise because there were no military exercises or war games taking place.

 

The Chinese spy ship is understood to have entered Australia’s 200km exclusive economic zone off the coast of Darwin some time in August, before taking a meandering journey south, hugging the coastline.

It is believed to have spent time monitoring the Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland, which the ­Department of Defence describes as “one of Australia’s prime military training areas”.

It then sailed south past a number of training areas used by the Royal Australian Air Force, making several laps, and travelling as far south as Sydney before heading across the Tasman to New Zealand.

Defence surveillance images obtained by The Daily Telegraph show the ship flying the Chinese flag off the coast of Australia, as well as being shadowed by the Australian navy’s HMAS Supply.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton.

Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ships in the Dongdiao-class are understood to have a wide variety of electronic and optical surveillance capabilities, allowing them to scoop up ­information and probe vulnerabilities in Australian military and civilian systems that could give Beijing an advantage in a future conflict.

They are characterised by a variety of radar arrays and antennas which can be used for spy missions as well as tracking ballistic missile tests. They are also routinely deployed by China to spy on Taiwan.

The Chinese warship spotted off the Australian coast.

This is not the first time that China has deployed military vessels to monitor Australia.

Along with the ship which tracked this year’s Talisman Sabre exercises, in 2019 Sydneysiders were surprised to see three Chinese warships sailing into the harbour on an unannounced visit on the eve of the Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary.

China also sent spy ships to watch Talisman Sabre in 2017 and 2019.

It is legal for foreign vessels to enter another country’s exclusive economic zone and, as long as they do not come within 12nm, the sail would not technically violate rules around freedom of navigation as set out by the UN.

While it is not unusual for countries to spy on one another and monitor each others’ military games, this latest move comes amid tensions between China and Australia.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton this week accused Beijing of “completely unacceptable” behaviour towards Australia, saying: “We have seen coercion and ‘grey zone’ activity and cyber attacks on our country.’’

But there seems to have been a global lowering of the temperature in relation to China in recent weeks, with US President Joe Biden’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping helping to ease relations between Beijing and the West.

Local observers have also pointed to the appointment by Beijing of a new ambassador to Canberra, whose approach has been ­reported as “more sophisticated” than previous “wolf warrior” diplomats.

A Defence spokesman said: “Australia monitors all vessels operating in our maritime (area). Australia supports and respects the rights of all states to exercise lawful freedom of navigation … in international ­waters, just as we expect them to respect our right to do so.”

Originally published as Chinese spy ship spotted circling Australian coast