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ABC News
ABC News
National
defence correspondent Andrew Greene

Chief of Navy details Beijing's 'unusual' South China Sea behaviour as Australia prepares for more spy ships off Darwin coast

Australian warships are being "routinely" shadowed by Chinese military vessels in contested South China Sea waters, in behaviour the new Chief of Navy describes as "unusual".

In a wideranging interview, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond insisted the interactions with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) remained safe and "professional" and he predicted Chinese spy ships would closely monitor naval drills off Darwin next week.

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