Paterson Warns CCP Ship Has Deep Sea Mapping Capabilities, Dutton Calls for Better Undersea Drones

‘We don’t know exactly what it’s doing,’ said Home Affairs Shadow Minister James Paterson.

A Chinese research ship proceeds to deck at a port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Oct. 25, 2023. Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images

Home Affairs Shadow Minister James Paterson has warned the CCP “research vessel” off the southern coast of Australia is capable of deploying submersibles to map the seabed.

The discovery of another Chinese Communist Party (CCP) vessel in Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, prompted the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to push for stronger autonomous underwater capabilities to surveil any threats.