Chinese vessels were "provoked" when tracking US-Australian exercises

ABC, 21/7, led by the Australian Defense Ministry, said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) intelligence gathering (AGI) was discovered in international waters during the demonstration. Take the joint exercise called Talisman Saber of Australia and a number of countries, including the United States.

Australian Defense Ministry notification says Chinese high-tech ships operate outside of Australia, but within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Coral Sea.

"Talisman Saber exercises are taking place in the vicinity (where Chinese ships appear). The presence of Chinese vessels does not alter the objectives of the exercises, "the Australian Defense Ministry statement added.

Senior Australian military officials called the Chinese ship "provocative" and sent a message "unfriendly" as the exercises were taking place.

Experts Euan Graham of the Lowy Institute said that China's deployment of surveillance ships to the area is alarming.

"I personally never knew of the public presence of an AGI ship off the coast of Australia before," Graham said.

This year's Talisman Saber exercise lasted three weeks in Queensland with the participation of more than 33,000 Australian, American, New Zealand, Japanese and Canadian troops.