Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Over the past two days, Australia has been paranoid about a Chinese research vessel that appeared off the coast of South Australia. In Australian media's portrayal, what was originally a harmless research ship has, for no clear reason, been transformed into a "spy ship." 

It started with the Chinese research vessel, Tan Suo Yi Hao (Discovery One) being spotted "traveling along Australia's southern coastline, outside of Australia's exclusive economic zone," according to Australia media. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted on Monday that "China carries out normal activities at sea in accordance with international law, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We hope Australia will have a right understanding of this and stop the groundless suspicion and speculations." However, on Tuesday, the tone of Australian media reports became increasingly exaggerated.

Sky News Australia claimed that "a Chinese spy ship spotted off the coast of South Australia has been accused of mapping Australia's submarine cables for 'future operations.'" The Australian published a more blatant headline, "China spy ship has Labor all at sea."

But how can anyone be sure this ship is a "spy"? According to these media outlets, the answer is: The vessel is CONSIDERED a "spy ship," as "the PLA WOULD be vitally interested in undersea oceanography off the Australian coast." In other words, the accusation is nothing more than unfounded speculation.

Xu Shanpin, an adjunct research fellow at the China University of Mining and Technology, believes the nature of Tan Suo Yi Hao has been confirmed by the New Zealand side and even some Western media outlets. The Guardian noted that "Tan Suo Yi Hao was in New Zealand as part of an eight-nation scientific venture and helped New Zealand scientists reach the bottom of the Puysegur trench for the first time, according to local media." It quoted a New Zealand biologist as saying that "the vessel enabled scientists to reach locations previously out of reach."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also said that "We live in circumstances where just as Australia has vessels in the South China Sea, and vessels in the Taiwan Straits and a range of areas, this vessel is there." Albanese spoke the truth, while to some extent highlighting the double standards of some Australian politicians and media - while Australia allows its own vessels to demonstrate military presence in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, they cannot tolerate Chinese ships entering international waters near Australia's coastline; and for them, anything related to China can easily be framed as a "security" issue, Xu told the Global Times. 

Unsurprisingly, Albanese's remarks have drawn criticism from the opposition party and some media outlets. Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition, accused him of "weakness" on national security. The real issue isn't that "China's research vessel poses any actual threat," but rather the timing - just ahead of Australia's national election in early May. For the opposition, especially its leader Dutton, this election could be his last chance to run for office. That's why Dutton has begun beating "the drums of war" against China again. The "China threat" narrative has become almost his only political tool to challenge the Labor Party and Albanese, Yu Lei, a professor from the Department of International Politics and Economics at Shandong University, told the Global Times. 

In February, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian wrote that "China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners. The term 'partner' indicates that the two countries are friends, not rivals." There are also clear-eyed Australian scholars and former politicians who point out that China has never been a threat to Australia. They say that Australia is absolutely a beneficiary of China's economic development. 

Some Australian politicians just don't get it. They try to block the improvement of China-Australia relations, constantly spewing harmful rhetoric and hijacking the relationship, only for their personal benefit. That's the real threat to Australia - not the research vessel from China.

A better relationship with China will bring invaluable benefits to Australia. However, the key lies in managing the balance between China, Australia, and the US; Canberra cannot simply reap economic benefits from China while aligning with the US to undermine China's core interests. This is not an unreasonable expectation.

But one thing is certain, China is not a threat. On this point, Australia can sleep soundly. It does not have to be this paranoid.