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A Chinese surveillance vessel has been spotted close to the coastline of Western Australia, not far from a secretive naval base, Defence Minister Peter Dutton has said.
The vessel is described as a "warship with intelligence-gathering capacity" and is "hugging the coastline".
Dutton said the ship's actions are an "act of aggression".
The PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing photographed off the coast of Western Australia. (Department of Defence)
Dutton said the warship has gone as far south as Exmouth and is now working its way north towards Darwin.
"It is obviously very strange that it has come this far south and it is hugging the coastline as it goes north, and its intention will be to collect as much electronic intelligence as it can," he said.
"It is strange timing and without precedent."
The PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing is heading north towards Darwin. (Department of Defence)
The vessel is now being monitored by Australian surveillance aircraft.
Dutton said it was sighted 250 nautical miles northwest of Broome and is tracking northeast at 12 knots.
Dutton said it is believed the surveillance vessel wanted a closer look at the Harold E Holt naval communication station.
That base north of Exmouth provides radio transmission to United States and Australian submarines in the western Pacific and eastern Indian oceans.
It is the most powerful transmission station in the Southern Hemisphere.
The path of the Chinese spy ship the PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing. (Department of Defence)
He said the international protocol is to contact Australian authorities if surveillance warships are nearby.
"That hasn't happened," Dutton said.
"It is best that people are made fully aware of what is a very unusual path and course that they have taken."
The ship has been identified by the Department of Defence as a PLA-N, Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing.
Haiwangxing entered Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone on the morning of May 6.
By May 8 it was 70 nautical miles away from the Harold E Holt Communication Station (HEHCS), north of Exmouth.
It turned north, and by May 11 it was 50 nautical miles from HEHCS. It then steamed north and by May 13 had been tracked off the port of Broome, thought to be heading towards Darwin.
www.9news.com.au
The vessel is described as a "warship with intelligence-gathering capacity" and is "hugging the coastline".
Dutton said the ship's actions are an "act of aggression".
The PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing photographed off the coast of Western Australia. (Department of Defence)
Dutton said the warship has gone as far south as Exmouth and is now working its way north towards Darwin.
"It is obviously very strange that it has come this far south and it is hugging the coastline as it goes north, and its intention will be to collect as much electronic intelligence as it can," he said.
"It is strange timing and without precedent."
The PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing is heading north towards Darwin. (Department of Defence)
The vessel is now being monitored by Australian surveillance aircraft.
Dutton said it was sighted 250 nautical miles northwest of Broome and is tracking northeast at 12 knots.
Dutton said it is believed the surveillance vessel wanted a closer look at the Harold E Holt naval communication station.
That base north of Exmouth provides radio transmission to United States and Australian submarines in the western Pacific and eastern Indian oceans.
It is the most powerful transmission station in the Southern Hemisphere.
The path of the Chinese spy ship the PLA-N Dongdiao ship Haiwangxing. (Department of Defence)
He said the international protocol is to contact Australian authorities if surveillance warships are nearby.
"That hasn't happened," Dutton said.
"It is best that people are made fully aware of what is a very unusual path and course that they have taken."
The ship has been identified by the Department of Defence as a PLA-N, Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing.
Haiwangxing entered Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone on the morning of May 6.
By May 8 it was 70 nautical miles away from the Harold E Holt Communication Station (HEHCS), north of Exmouth.
It turned north, and by May 11 it was 50 nautical miles from HEHCS. It then steamed north and by May 13 had been tracked off the port of Broome, thought to be heading towards Darwin.
Chinese spy ship spotted off WA coast: Dutton
www.9news.com.au
