ASPI’s Michael Shoebridge says to have a Chinese spy ship turn up off the coast of Western Australia, “almost as a matter of routine”, tells us Australia’s “security environment” has changed.

Mr Shoebridge said the problem is that it’s becoming “less and less unusual”.

“This is a really out and proud Chinese military, they’re willing to intimidate and coerce,” he told Sky News host Chris Kenny.

“And the other development we’ve got to join the dots to here is Solomon’s security deal with Beijing which makes the PLA Navy operating closer to Australia more routinely, like this, a part of the new normal.”