Australian officials are closely monitoring a Chinese vessel that's passing through its waters, after completing a joint mission with Kiwi scientists off the coast of Fiordland. 

The high-tech Chinese research ship is carrying a deep-sea submersible that's capable of exploring extreme depths. 

It's following the route of Australia's deep-sea submarine cable, off the southern coast, weeks after Chinese warships carried out live drills in the Tasman Sea. 

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Andrew Dickens that when asked, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there's not much Australian can do about it. 

Albanese says they'd prefer it wasn't there, but it's able to pass through, just like Australia is able to have vessels in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. 

LISTEN ABOVE