Mammoth Chinese ‘spy ship’ carrying submarines off Australia’s southern coast

A Chinese research ship carrying manned and unmanned submarines has sailed into Australian waters just weeks after live-fire naval exercises ordered by Beijing sparked fury.

A Chinese “spy ship” that could provide crucial intelligence for submarine operations has sailed into Australian waters as the country prepares to head to the polls.

The Tan Suo Yi Hao, a 94-metre research vessel that carries manned and unmanned small submarines, remains in the Great Australian Bight off South Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australian authorities were monitoring the ship but was cautious about providing further details, as marine traffic monitoring indicated the Chinese-flagged ship was moving and using its engine on Monday morning.

The vessel’s arrival has raised concerns after Chinese warships conducted live fire exercises in international waters in the Tasman Sea last month.

The Tan Suo Yi Hao can map the ocean floor, which would be critical information to the Chinese government if there was ever a war between China and Australia.

The Chinese ship Tan Suo Yi Hao, which is currently sailing off Australia's southern coast. Picture: China's Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering

The vessel has sent small submersibles, or mini-submarines to a depth of 10,000m, with China boasting of its ability to survey the Mariana Trench.

The mapping conducted by the Tan Suo Yi Hao in Australia would allow China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy to plan submarine operations, former Home Affairs Department boss Michael Pezzullo said.

“All such research is made available to the PLA, and is probably shaped by PLA research priorities,” he said.

“The PLA would be vitally interested in undersea oceanography off the Australian coast (including the Southern Ocean).

“This would support submarine operations in wartime, mining of ports and sea lanes, and cable cutting.”

Defence expert and former chief of the Department of Home Affairs Michael Pezzullo says mapping the sea floor would give China crucial intelligence for its submarine fleet. Picture: Martin Ollman

Underwater sea cables are critical to Australia’s communication systems, carrying much of the nation’s internet capability that underpins critical water and transport infrastructure.

On the campaign trail, Mr Albanese said he would “prefer (the ship) wasn’t there” but insisted he had full confidence in the Defence Force and security agencies to protect Australian interests.

“What we have done is we’re continuing to monitor it,” he said. “We won’t – for obvious reasons – broadcast everything that we’re doing. But we’re keeping an eye on this as we do.”

The Tan Suo Yi Hao, which carries manned and unmanned small submarines, remains in the Great Australian Bight off South Australia.

Mr Albanese said it was not the first time the Tan Suo Yi Hao had been off Australia’s coast.

“It’s been in New Zealand on a joint research operation, and this isn’t the first time that a similar vessel has been around the Australian coast,” he said.

“It occurred in 2020, for example, just to give one example. Australia, as you would expect, is monitoring this.”

Comment has been sought from the Defence Department.

Originally published as Mammoth Chinese ‘spy ship’ carrying submarines off Australia’s southern coast