Australian defence minister says Chinese spy ship in waters 'an act of aggression'

FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton reacts during a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at Parliament House, in Canberra, Australia December 13, 2021. Lukas Coch/Pool via REUTERS/FIle Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's defence minister, Peter Dutton, said a Chinese intelligence ship had been tracked off the West Australian coast, describing it as an "act of aggression" by Beijing.

"I think it is an act of aggression. I think particularly because it has come so far south," he said at a news conference called to announce the tracking of the ship.