Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed that he would “prefer” not to have a Chinese research vessel navigating Australian waters amidst certain concerns regarding its presence. The Tan Suo Yi Hao, a Chinese mothership capable of transporting smaller submarines, is currently located off the coast of South Australia in the Great Australian Bight.
Albanese noted that the Australian government is actively “monitoring the situation,” although he refrained from providing additional details for security reasons. He acknowledged that China’s actions mirror Australia’s own maritime activities, as both nations deploy vessels in strategically significant areas like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
The vessel’s trajectory includes movement from New Zealand before expected to return to China. It has been described in reports as a “spy ship,” purportedly serving dual purposes of scientific research and intelligence gathering. According to China’s Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, the 94-metre ship can explore ocean depths reaching 10,000 metres.
Concerns were raised by Australian officials regarding military drills linked to this vessel; however, the Chinese Ministry of Defence dismissed these worries, labelling them as “exaggerated” and asserting that China complies fully with international laws and does not pose a threat to flight safety in the region.
During a campaign visit in Perth, Albanese conveyed his trust in Australia’s defence and security agencies, stating, “What our task is to do, is to make sure that we represent Australia’s national interest… I have every confidence in our defence force and our security agencies to do just that.” The Department of Defence has been approached for further commentary on this matter.