Chinese spy ship monitored US, Aussie war games

Bloomberg

A high-tech Chinese spy ship in international waters off Australia’s northern coast has been monitoring joint military exercises between Australia and the US, the Australian defense force said.
“Australia defense can confirm that a Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy Type 815 Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence vessel has been operating off the north-east coast of Australia,” the Department of Defense said in an emailed statement on Saturday. “The Chinese vessel has remained outside Australian territorial waters but inside the Australian exclusive economic zone in the Coral Sea,”
it said.
The allies’ regular Exercise Talisman Saber exercises were taking place in the vicinity, it said, adding the vessel’s presence had not detracted from the exercise objectives. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported the Chinese vessel’s operations earlier on Saturday.
“Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters in accordance with international law,” the defense department said.