US Pacific Fleet spokesman Captain Charlie Brown confirmed to USNI News that the The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) ship has been operating in the exclusive economic zone since July 11.
USNI News understands it is a Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) spy vessel.
Captain Brown: “We expect the ship will remain outside the territorial seas of the U.S. and not operate in a manner that disrupts ongoing RIMPAC exercise.
“We’ve taken all precautions necessary to protect our critical information. The ship’s presence has not affected the conduct of the exercise.
“We continue to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law.”
The presence of the spy ship has been attacked by Chilean Commodore Pablo Nieman, the commander of the exercise’s combined forces maritime component.
He said: “It is very disappointing that the presence of a non-participating ship could disrupt the exercise,” Chilean Navy Commodore Pablo Niemann told the Star-Advertiser on Thursday.
“I hope and expect all seafarers to act professionally so we may continue to focus on the work at hand and building on the spirit of cooperation that gives purpose to this exercise.”
Andrew Erickson, a professor at the Naval War College, told USNI News: “The presence of the ship off of Hawaii can be used a tool to justify more U.S. presence operations closer to China. The US shouldn’t let China have it both ways.
“No matter what Beijing says or does, US forces must continue to operate wherever international law permits, including in, under, and over the South China Sea.
“This is a vital part of the global maritime commons that is 1.5 times the size of the Mediterranean and contains substantial areas that no nation can legally claim for itself or restrict access to in any way.”
In May, the Pentagon announced it was uninviting China from the exercise because of the recent militarisation of the South China Sea, with Vietnam invited to participate in its place for the first time.
Israel and China are also making the debuts. China had participated in the exercise in 2014 and 2016.
According to the US Navy, The 47-ship, five submarine exercise consists of 26 countries and features over 200 aircraft manned by around 25,000 personnel.