A sophisticated Chinese spy ship monitored Australian, Philippines, United States and New Zealand naval forces as they conducted another round of joint exercises in the South China Sea late last week, with Beijing once again labelling Manila a "troublemaker" intent on undermining "regional peace."

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Richard Marles has used a weekend meeting with his Chinese counterpart to again raise Australia's concerns about the conduct of the Chinese military in the region, in the wake of another potentially dangerous encounter between a Chinese fighter jet and Australian surveillance aircraft last month.

Late last week, the Australian warship HMAS Ballarat joined a Philippines frigate, a New Zealand refueller, a United States destroyer and a US P-8 surveillance plane for wha

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