Defence is aware of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Intelligence Collection Vessel operating off the north-west shelf of Australia.
Defence can confirm the vessel is a PLA-N, Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing.
The Haiwangxing travelled down the west coast of Australia to the vicinity of Exmouth, before changing course to track east along the north-west coast.
Defence is actively monitoring the current activities of the Chinese Intelligence Collection Vessel off the north-west coast of Western Australia with a combination of air and maritime capabilities.
Australia respects the right of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace, just as we expect others to respect our right to do the same.
Defence will continue to monitor the ship’s operation in our maritime approaches.
