Chinese spy ship sighted in the Coral Sea: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles insists he is not worried about the ship off the Queensland coast

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has insisted there is no cause for alarm after a Chinese spy ship was spotted in waters off the coast of Australia.

The lurking vessel was seen entering the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland this week but acted “in accordance with international law,” Marles said.

The huge ship, outfitted with advanced technology, is believed to be 30,000 kilometers offshore as Australia began Talisman Saber military exercises in Sydney on Friday.

30,000 soldiers from 13 nations are taking part in the exercises, which is the country’s largest training spectacle and will continue for the next two weeks.

Mr Marles told Weekend Today he took solace in the fact that since training began in 2013, there has always been a Chinese ship as an observer.

According to the deputy prime minister, there is no cause for concern after a Chinese spy ship (pictured) was spotted in the waters near a military exercise

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the lurking vessel “acted in accordance with international law” when it entered the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland

Mission comes first and the country should focus on education itself, according to Mr. Marles.

“They are acting in accordance with international law and therefore this is entirely to be expected,” Mr Marles said on Saturday.

“For us, it’s really about our skills and our capacity, and it’s mostly about our ability to work with other countries, our friends and allies, and especially the United States.”

The spy ship was first sighted on Friday by the Australian military, who told the public it had confirmed its location and country of origin.

Senior officers involved in the training also confirmed that the sighting of the ship was unremarkable and routine, according to Lt. Gen. Greg Bilton, the ADF’s head of joint operations.

“No, look, they’ve been here before and look, I’m telling you now, there’s one off the east coast of Australia right now,” Lt. Gen. Bilton said during the Talisman Saber launch ceremony.

“We got in touch on Thursday and called the ship in the Coral Sea. I assume it will move down and join the exercise – or be back at the point of the exercise.

“They have been doing this for a number of years, we are well prepared for it.”

Lieutenant General Bilton did not reveal the name or class of the Chinese ship in his speech.

The deputy prime minister stressed that the drills are not a simulation of a war against China or any other nation, but rather a collaborative operation between allies.

“You don’t have a capable defense force if you’re not fit enough, and you’re not fit if you don’t exercise,” Mr Marles said.

“It is the most important exercise we conduct in terms of certifying all the skills and abilities that exist within the Australian Defense Force.”

The giant foreign vessel, outfitted with advanced technology, is believed to be lying 30,000 kilometers offshore when Australia began Talisman Saber military exercises

30,000 soldiers from 13 nations are taking part in the exercises, which is the country’s largest training spectacle and will continue for the next two weeks

Mr Marles said he was also not worried about the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal falling through the US Senate.

“I was informed exactly what is happening in Congress,” he said in the WT interview.

“I think that’s quite normal given the way legislation goes through Congress.”

The USS Canberra was the first American Navy ship to be commissioned outside the country for the Talisman Saber, which was launched Saturday.

Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Tonga, United Kingdom and United States are also participating in the exercises.

The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand also have people in the country who are present as observers.