US: China secretly spied on RIMPAC 2018
Chinese intelligence ships have been operating in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Hawaii since July 11 to spy on the 2018 RIMPAC exercise.
Information about this discovery was personally announced by US Pacific Fleet spokesman Charlie Brown: "We anticipate that the ship will operate outside US territorial waters and not interrupt the ongoing RIMPAC exercise.
We have taken all necessary precautions to protect critical information. The presence of the Chinese ship does not affect the exercise," Mr. Brown said.
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Chilean Navy Rear Admiral Pablo Niemann told the Star-Advertiser: "It is disappointing that the presence of a ship not participating in RIMPAC could disrupt the exercise.
I hope and expect that all Sailors will conduct themselves in a professional manner so that we can continue to focus on the immediate work and build the spirit of cooperation that RIMPAC is all about."
Before the RIMPAC exercise officially opened, Australian media reported that a Chinese ship had been shadowing an Australian ship en route to RIMPAC. However, it is unclear whether this ship was the same one operating off the Hawaiian Islands.
USNI News believes that the "uninvited guest" is a Dongdiao-class ship, the same type of ship China used to monitor RIMPAC in 2016 and 2014.
The ship was present off the coast of Hawaii when on May 23, the Pentagon announced that it would not invite China to participate in the 2018 Rim of the Pacific naval exercise organized by the US Department of Defense, in response to China's militarization of the East Sea.
"As an initial response to China's continued militarization of the South China Sea, we are disinviting the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA) from RIMPAC 2018," Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan said.
Lt. Col. Logan did not elaborate on what other responses the next U.S. administration might take. However, he stressed that there was “clear evidence” that China had deployed anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems, and electronic jamming systems to some of the islands it illegally occupies in the South China Sea.
Mr. Logan stressed that China's continued militarization of disputed entities in the East Sea only increases tensions and destabilizes the region.
"China's behavior is contrary to the principles and purposes of the RIMPAC exercise," the Pentagon spokesman said.
