The arrival of a Chinese surveillance ship in Suva on the same day the Australian navy visited was purely a coincidence, China's ambassador to Fiji says.
A Chinese navy soldier hangs signal flags on missile destroyer Hefei during a military exercise in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
The Yuanwang 7, which is used to track and support Chinese Army satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles, docked near the HMAS Adelaide, which was in Suva for a military exercise.
Australian defence figures told reporters that they suspected the vessel was trying to snoop on Australian military activities during its brief visit.
But the Chinese ambassador, Qian Bo, said his country's ship was only calling in for supplies on a stop that was pre-arranged with and authorised by Fiji's government.
