Chinese Spy Ship Heading to Queensland Coast as US-Australian Wargames Begin
Defence forces are monitoring a Chinese surveillance vessel that looks set to arrive off the coast of the northern Australian state of Queensland as wargames involving U.S. and Australian defence forces begin.
The Tiangwangxing, which translates to Uranus, is scheduled to arrive July 16 and will park itself just inside Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone—outside of Australia’s territorial waters—where according to international maritime law it has legal grounds to remain.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia respected freedom of navigation but was “very wary” of the ship.