Chinese spy vessel spotted near Western Australia's coast, claims Australia's Defence Min

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton claimed that a Chinese spy vessel has been detected on Western Australia's coastline, not far from a secret naval facility. ship, according to Australian Defence Minister, is a "warship with intelligence-garing capacity" that is currently "hugging coastline." According to Australian media reports, Dutton called ship's act aggressive.

Dutton stated, "It is obviously very strange that it has come this far south and it is hugging coastline as it goes north, and its intention will be to collect as much electronic intelligence as it can. It is strange timing and without precedent."

battleship has travelled as far south as Exmouth, according to Dutton, and is now heing north toward Darwin. Australian surveillance aircraft are now tracking vessel. It was seen 250 nautical miles northwest of Broome and is travelling norast at 12 knots, according to Dutton. surveillance vessel, Australian Defence Minister believed, wanted a closer look at Harold E Holt naval communication post.

Exmouth site offers rio transmission to US and Australian submarines

It is pertinent to mention here that North of Exmouth site offers rio transmission to US and Australian submarines operating in western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans. It is Sourn Hemisphere's most powerful transmission station. If surveillance warships are in area, he said, international protocol is to alert Australian authorities.

Dutton claimed, "That hasn't happened. It is best that people are me fully aware of what is a very unusual path and course that y have taken."

ship is a PLA-N Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing, according to Department of Defense. On morning of May 6, Haiwangxing sailed into Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. Harold E Holt Communication Station (HEHCS), north of Exmouth, was 70 nautical miles away by May 8. It h heed north and was 50 nautical miles away from HEHCS around May 11. It n sped north, and on May 13, it was discovered off coast of Broome, on its way to Darwin.

(With agency inputs)