The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Fiji, Qian Bo says the Australian media reports that China had a spy ship docked next to the Australian military vessel, HMAS Adelaide in Suva, are nonsense.
Speaking to Fijivillage, Ambassador Qian says these spy ship reports are totally misleading as the Chinese ship is a satellite tracking vessel which has been coming to Fiji for some time.
Ambassador Qian says China’s relationship with Fiji is a very strong and friendly relationship.
He says China has a broader vision of foreign policy after having discussions in the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party last year.
The Chinese Ambassador says in that congress, China decided to build a new form of international relations and the second is to build a community for the shared future for mankind.
Ambassador Qian says China wants to work together with everyone including Australia and Fiji to build a new form of international relations.
He says the ball is in the court of the Australian side, and in their view, it is in the interest of both sides to work continuously for a friendly relationship.
Ambassador Qian says more importantly from the Chinese perspective, the Australian side needs to address its problem of perception on China’s development.
He says Australia should take China’s development as a positive factor instead of looking at China through tinted glasses.
The ABC had reported over the weekend that the Chinese ship fitted with communications equipment docked alongside the new Canberra‑class landing helicopter dock, was suspected to be a spy ship.
It had reported that the vessel deliberately arrived at the same time to carry out surveillance on the Australians.
However Captain Jim Hutton, Commander of the Navy’s Joint Task Group 661, has said that HMAS Adelaide and other Australian warships visiting Fiji will take the appropriate security precautions, but the surveillance craft is "just another ship".
Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Mark Hammond said it is a space surveillance ship, a scientific ship.
