Australia has accused China of failing to provide satisfactory reasons for its inadequate notice of a live-fire drill in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to divert flights.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government was seeking an explanation from China on why it did not follow standard protocol by giving 12-24 hours’ notice for such exercises.
The drills were conducted after a Chinese naval vessel entered Australia’s maritime approaches last week, and travelled down the country’s east coast. Despite this, there was no imminent risk of danger to Australian or New Zealand assets, according to the government.
China claims it upheld safety standards during the exercise, with its foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stating that international law was followed.
The incident comes as tensions remain high between Australia and China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In December, Beijing accused an Australian aircraft of deliberately intruding into its airspace, leading to a complaint from Australia about “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a Chinese fighter jet.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-says-china-failed-explain-inadequate-navy-live-fire-notice-2025-02-22