Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated his preference for a Chinese research vessel not to be located off the coast of Victoria and affirmed that the Australian defense force will closely monitor it. The vessel, named Tan Suo Yi Hao, was spotted south of the Victorian town of Portland on Monday afternoon, heading west after a port call in Wellington. Although Albanese made his preference clear, he acknowledged that situations like this are not uncommon, mentioning Australia’s own naval activities in regions like the China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Albanese informed the public that the vessel had been in New Zealand as part of a collaborative research operation and was not the first instance of a similar vessel being spotted near the Australian coast. He emphasized that the government is monitoring the situation but refused to disclose every detail of their actions. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that they are aware of the vessel’s exact location, its direction, and its speed.

The Online portal Garryfong

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/31/albanese-chinese-research-ship-australia-coast-tan-suo-yi-hao