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Military on alert following spy-ship sighting off north

Military authorities have been put on alert after they detected a Chinese spy ship off the northern part of Taiwan, a report said yesterday.

The 17,000-tonne Yuanwang 3 (遠望三號) -- one of four reconnaissance ships serving the Chinese military -- was found only 32km off Tamshui, early yesterday morning, the United Daily News said.

"The military authorities said they believed the ship, armed with sophisticated telecommunication equipment, had managed to approach the island to collect information," the paper said.

But it said the Chinese ship had departed before coast guard vessels could reach to the site.

The defense ministry declined to comment on the report.

Earlier this month a fleet of naval and coast guard vessels chased a Chinese spy ship found off southern Taiwan.

The vessel, the Xiangyanghung No. 14, was detected some 25 nautical miles off Chiupeng base, where most of Taiwan's missile tests have been held.

The reports came as Taiwan's armed forces were embarking on the "Hankuang 18" (漢光, Han Glory) exercise.
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