A Chinese spy ship has been circling Australia for three weeks collecting intelligence off the coast, raising security concerns as Australia’s defence minister warned the country is facing the most dramatic change in its strategic environment since WWII. Intelligence Ship Yuhengxing entered Australia’s 200 kilometre exclusive economic zone near Darwin in August and September, hugging the coastline and headed as far south as Sydney. It passed a number of important military areas, before sailing across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. The vessel is believed to be a Dongdaio-class spy ship, which is capable of monitoring communications and radar signals and the electromagnetic spectrum as well as employing other surveillance methods such as optical sensors. A Defence spokesperson told The Epoch Times the government is aware of the vessel entering Australia’s maritime zones but said China has the right to “exercise lawful freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters …