A rare live-fire exercise conducted by China’s navy off the coast of Australia has forced airlines to alter their flight paths. The exercise, which took place in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, was announced on a civil aircraft radio channel just hours before it began.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) broadcast a message stating that it would conduct live-fire activity 346 nautical miles off the Australian coast. Airlines including Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand adjusted their flight routes to avoid the area.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern over the short notice given by China, which she described as “very short notice”. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said that while China complied with international law in terms of providing notice, it was inadequate for commercial planes to react quickly enough.
The exercise is the latest incident between China and Australia, following a complaint from Australia about “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian aircraft last week. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that its claims to the South China Sea are not supported by international law.
Airlines and air traffic control agencies have warned of the potential risks associated with such exercises, highlighting the need for better communication between nations to ensure safe operations.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/commercial-airlines-warned-chinese-navy-holds-live-fire-exercise-off-australia-2025-02-21