Australia says Chinese spy ship's presence off west coast 'concerning'

A Chinese intelligence ship was tracked off Australia’s west coast within 50 nautical miles of a sensitive defence facility, Australia said on Friday, raising concern amid an election campaign about China’s assertive behaviour in the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Chinese navy vessel was not in Australian territorial waters, but its presence was “concerning”. “It is clearly an intelligence ship and they are looking at us and we’re keeping a close eye on them,” he told reporters. Australia had tracked the spy ship over the past week as it sailed past the Harold E Holt naval communications station…